1 Samuel 11

11 ¹ Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and camped against Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we'll serve you."

² Nahash the Ammonite answered, "I will make this treaty with you: I gouge out everyone's right eye, and bring disgrace on all Israel."

³ Jabesh's elders told him, "Give us seven days to send messengers through all Israel's territory. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you." ⁴ The messengers reached Gibeah of Saul, told the people what happened, and all of them wept aloud.

⁵ Just then Saul came in from the field, behind his oxen. 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; his anger burned fiercely. ⁷ He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them through all Israel's territory by messengers: "This will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out after Saul and Samuel." Then dread of our Father fell on the people, and they came out as one man. ⁸ He counted them at Bezek: three hundred thousand Israelites, thirty thousand men of Judah. ⁹ They told the messengers who came, 'Say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.' The messengers went and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. ¹⁰ The men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you; do to us whatever you like." ¹¹ Next day Saul split the people into three companies. At the morning watch they entered the camp and struck down the Ammonites until the day's heat; the survivors scattered so that no two remained together.

The Kingdom Renewed Before Our Father

¹² The people said to Samuel, "Who asked, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Hand over those men — we will kill them."

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

¹⁴ Samuel said to the people, "Come, let's go to Gilgal and renew the reign there." ¹⁵ All the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king there before our Father. There they sacrificed peace offerings before our Father, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.