1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up , and encamped against Jabesh-gilead : and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash , Make a covenant with us , and we will serve thee . 2And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them , On this condition will I make it with you , that all your right eyes be put out ; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel . 3And the elders of Jabesh said unto him , Give us seven days ’ respite , that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel ; and then , if there be none to save us , we will come out to thee . 4Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul , and spake these words in the ears of the people : and all the people lifted up their voice , and wept . 5And , behold , Saul came following the oxen out of the field ; and Saul said , What aileth the people that they weep ? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh . 6And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words , and his anger was kindled greatly . 7And he took a yoke of oxen , and cut them in pieces , and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers , saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel , so shall it be done unto his oxen . And the dread of Jehovah fell on the people , and they came out as one man .
The Battle Against the Ammonites
8And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9And they said unto the messengers that came , Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead , To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot , ye shall have deliverance . And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh ; and they were glad . 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said , To-morrow we will come out unto you , and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you . 11And it was so on the morrow , that Saul put the people in three companies ; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day : and it came to pass , that they that remained were scattered , so that not two of them were left together .
Saul's Kingship Confirmed
12And the people said unto Samuel , Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us ? bring the men , that we may put them to death . 13And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day ; for to-day Jehovah hath wrought deliverance in Israel . 14Then said Samuel to the people , Come , and let us go to Gilgal , and renew the kingdom there . 15And all the people went to Gilgal ; and there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal ; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Jehovah ; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly .