1 Samuel 11

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Yavesh-Gilad; and all the men of Yavesh said unto Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Yisrael.”

3 And the elders of Yavesh said unto him, “Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Yisrael. And then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to you.”

4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, “What aileth the people that they weep?” And they told him the tidings of the men of Yavesh.

6 And the Spirit of God (Elohim) came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Yisrael by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Shemuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen.” And the fear of יהוה fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Yisrael were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah (Yehudah) thirty thousand.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came, “Thus shall you say unto the men of Yavesh-Gilad: ‘Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, you shall have help.’” And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Yavesh; and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Yavesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and you shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.”

11 And it was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it came to pass, that they who remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 And the people said unto Shemuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13 And Saul said, “There shall not a man be put to death this day; for today יהוה hath wrought salvation in Yisrael.”

14 Then said Shemuel to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.”

15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before יהוה in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before יהוה; and there Saul and all the men of Yisrael rejoiced greatly.