1And Nahash the Ammonite went up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead; and all the men (ish) of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Cut for us a covenant (berit), and we will serve you (avad)."
2And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "By this I will cut it with you, by boring out for you every right eye, and I will set it as a reproach upon all Israel."
3And the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Leave us alone seven days, that we may send messengers in all the border of Israel; and if there is none saving us, then we will come out to you."
4And the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke the words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5And behold, Saul came following the herd out of the field; and Saul said, "What ails the people that they weep?" And they recounted to him the words of the men (ish) of Jabesh.
6And the spirit (ruach) of God rushed upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned greatly.
7And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them in all the border of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, thus shall it be done to his oxen." And the dread of YHWH fell upon the people, and they came out as one man (ish).
8And he numbered them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men (ish) of Judah thirty thousand.
9And they said to the messengers who came, "Thus shall you say to the men (ish) of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, by the heat of the sun, there shall be deliverance for you." And the messengers came and told the men (ish) of Jabesh; and they rejoiced.
10And the men (ish) of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do to us according to all that is good in your eyes."
11And it came to pass on the morrow, that Saul set the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and struck Ammon until the heat of the day; and it came to pass that those remaining were scattered, and there were not left among them two together.
12And the people said to Samuel, "Who is the one saying, Shall Saul reign over us? Give the men (ish), that we may put them to death."
13And Saul said, "No man (ish) shall be put to death this day, for today YHWH has wrought deliverance in Israel."
14And Samuel said to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew there the kingdom."
15And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before YHWH in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before YHWH; and there Saul and all the men (ish) of Israel rejoiced exceedingly.