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Then
Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against
Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto
Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will
serve thee.
02 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 Israel.
03 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give
us seven days' respite, that we may send
messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and
then, if there be no man to save us, we will come
out to thee.
04 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.
05 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 Jabesh.
06 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he
heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled
greatly.
07 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in
pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts
of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying,
Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after
Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And
the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they
came out with one consent.
08 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the
children of Israel were three hundred thousand,
and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
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09 And they said unto the messengers that came,
Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead,
Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall
have help. And the messengers came and shewed it
to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
10 Therefore 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.
11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the
people in three companies; and they came into the
midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew
the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it
came to pass, that they which remained were
scattered, so that two of them were not left
together.
12 And 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.
13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to
death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought
salvation in Israel.
14 Then said Samuel 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 the Lord in Gilgal;
and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace
offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all
the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
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