1 Samuel 11

11 ¹ Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you."

² But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you: that I gouge out everyone's right eye and so bring disgrace on all Israel."

³ The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel. Then, if no one comes to save us, we will surrender to you."

⁴ When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people what had happened, all the people wept aloud.

⁵ Now Saul was just coming in from the field, behind his oxen, and he asked, "What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?" So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh.

⁶ When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of our Father rushed upon him, and his anger burned hot. ⁷ He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, declaring, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out after Saul and Samuel." Then the dread of our Father fell on the people, and they came out as one man. ⁸ When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel numbered three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

⁹ They said to the messengers who had come, "Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead this: 'By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.'" When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were glad.

¹⁰ So the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you."

¹¹ The next day Saul divided the people into three companies. Before dawn they broke into the camp and struck down the Ammonites until midday. Those who survived were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

The Kingdom Renewed Before Our Father

¹² Then the people said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring those men out, and we will put them to death."

¹³ But Saul said, "No one will be put to death this day, for today our Father has brought salvation to Israel."

¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship."

¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal, and there, before our Father, they made Saul king. There they sacrificed peace offerings before our Father, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.