1 Samuel 11

1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

1Then Nahash the Ammonite marched up and surrounded the city of Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, 'Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.'

2And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, 'I will make a treaty with you only on this condition: that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you. This will bring shame on all Israel.'

3And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to thee.

3The leaders of Jabesh said to him, 'Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout all the land of Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will come out and surrender to you.'

4Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

4When the messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived, and told the people the news, everyone wept out loud.

5And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

5Just then, Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. He asked, 'What is wrong with the people? Why are they crying?' Then they told him what the men from Jabesh had said.

6And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

6When Saul heard this news, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he became very angry.

7And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the dread of Jehovah fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces throughout all Israel by messengers, saying, 'This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel!' A great fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out to join him as one man.

8And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

8When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.

9And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have deliverance. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

9They told the messengers who had come, 'Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.' When the messengers went and told the people of Jabesh, they were overjoyed.

10Therefore 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.

10The men of Jabesh said to Nahash, 'Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you think is right.'

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

11The next morning, Saul divided his men into three groups. They broke into the Ammonite camp during the early morning hours and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered so that no two of them stayed together.

12And 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.

12Then the people said to Samuel, 'Who were the ones who asked, "Should Saul rule over us?" Bring those men here so we can put them to death.'

13And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for to-day Jehovah hath wrought deliverance in Israel.

13But Saul said, 'No one will be put to death today, because today the LORD has rescued Israel.'

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

14Samuel said to the people, 'Come, let us go to Gilgal and officially confirm Saul as king there.'

15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Jehovah; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

15So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the LORD. They sacrificed peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites celebrated with great joy.