1 Samuel 11 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Saul Strikes Down the Ammonites

And Nahash^H5176 the Ammonite^H5984 came^H5927 up^H5927 and [fn]besieged^H2583^H5921 Jabesh-gilead^H3003^H1568; and all^H3605 the men^H376 of Jabesh^H3003 said^H559 to Nahash^H5176, “Cut^H3772 a covenant^H1285 with us, and we will serve^H5647 you.”

1Sa 11:2

1Sa 11:2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will cut it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel.”

1Sa 11:3

1Sa 11:3Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”

1Sa 11:4

1Sa 11:4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

1Sa 11:5

Now behold^H2009, Saul^H7586 was coming^H935 from the field^H7704 behind^H310 the oxen^H1241, and [fn]he said^H559, “What^H4100 is the matter with the people^H5971 that they weep^H1058?” So they recounted^H5608 to him the words^H1697 of the men^H376 of Jabesh^H3003.

1Sa 11:6

1Sa 11:6Then the Spirit of God [fn]came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and [fn]he burned with anger exceedingly.

1Sa 11:7

1Sa 11:7Then he took a pair of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

1Sa 11:8

1Sa 11:8And he [fn]numbered them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000.

1Sa 11:9

1Sa 11:9And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have salvation.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

1Sa 11:10

1Sa 11:10Then the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good in your eyes.”

1Sa 11:11

1Sa 11:11Then the next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

1Sa 11:12

Then the people^H5971 said^H559 to Samuel^H8050, “Who^H4310 is he that said^H559, ‘Shall Saul^H7586 reign^H4427 over^H5921 us?’ [fn]Bring^H5414 the men^H376, that we may put^H4191 them to^H4191 death^H4191.”

1Sa 11:13

1Sa 11:13But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today Yahweh has accomplished salvation in Israel.”

1Sa 11:14

Then Samuel^H8050 said^H559 to the people^H5971, “Come^H1980 and let us go^H1980 to Gilgal^H1537 and renew^H2318 the kingdom^H4410 there^H8033.”

1Sa 11:15

1Sa 11:15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel were exceedingly glad.