1 Samuel 11

1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”Cross-references: Gen 26:28 · Ex 23:32 · Deut 23:3 · Judg 10:7 · Judg 11:8 · Judg 21:8 · +7 more

2Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel.”Cross-references: Gen 34:14 · Ex 3:6 · Num 16:14 · Judg 16:21 · 1Sam 17:26 · 2Ki 18:31 · +2 more

3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”

4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people, then all the people lifted up their voice and wept.Cross-references: Judg 2:4 · Judg 21:2 · 1Sam 10:26 · 1Sam 14:2 · 1Sam 15:34 · 1Sam 30:4 · +5 more

5Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.Cross-references: Gen 21:17 · Judg 18:23 · 1Sam 9:1 · 1Ki 19:19 · Ps 78:71 · Isa 22:1

6God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot.Cross-references: Ex 32:19 · Num 12:3 · Judg 3:10 · Judg 6:34 · Judg 11:29 · Judg 13:25 · +5 more

7He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, then sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.Cross-references: Gen 35:5 · Judg 19:29 · Judg 20:1 · Judg 21:5 · 2Chr 14:14 · 2Chr 17:10

8He counted them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.Cross-references: Judg 1:4 · Judg 20:2 · 1Sam 13:15 · 1Sam 15:4 · 2Sam 24:9 · 2Chr 17:12

9They said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.’” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.Cross-references: Ps 18:17

10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.”Cross-references: 1Sam 11:2

11On the next day, Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the middle of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.Cross-references: Gen 22:14 · Ex 14:24 · Judg 1:7 · Judg 4:16 · Judg 7:16 · Judg 9:43 · +5 more

12The people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, that we may put them to death!”Cross-references: 1Sam 10:27 · Ps 21:8 · Luke 19:27

13Saul said, “No man shall be put to death today; for today Yahweh has rescued Israel.”Cross-references: Ex 14:13 · Ex 14:30 · 1Sam 14:45 · 1Sam 19:5 · 2Sam 19:22 · Ps 44:4 · +2 more

14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come! Let’s go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.”Cross-references: 1Sam 5:3 · 1Sam 7:16 · 1Sam 10:8 · 1Sam 10:24 · 1Chr 12:38

15All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.Cross-references: Ex 24:5 · 1Sam 8:19 · 1Sam 10:8 · 1Sam 10:17 · 1Sam 12:13 · 1Sam 12:17 · +3 more