1And it was done as after a month, Nahash of Ammon went up, and began to fight against Jabesh of Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Have thou us bound in peace (or Make thou a covenant, or a bond of peace, with us), and we shall serve thee.

2And Nahash of Ammon answered to them, In this I shall smite (a) bond of peace with you, that I put out the right eyes of all you, and that I put you to be reproof in all Israel. (And Nahash of Ammon answered to them, Only in this shall I strike a covenant with you, that I put out all of your right eyes, and that I bring reproach, or disgrace, upon all Israel.)

3And the elder men of Jabesh said to him, Grant thou to us seven days, that we send messengers to all the coasts of Israel; and if none be that defend us, we shall go out to thee. (And the elders of Jabesh said to him, First grant thou us seven days, so that we can send messengers into all the coasts of Israel; and if there be none who will defend us, then we shall come out to thee.)

4Then messengers came into Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words, while the people heard; and all the people raised (up) their voice, and wept.

5And lo! Saul came from the field, and he followed [the] oxen; and he said, What hath the people, for it weepeth? (or and he said, What maketh the people weep?) And they told to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6And the Spirit of the Lord fell at once into Saul, when he had heard these words, and his fierce wrath was greatly stirred.

7And he took ever either ox, and he cut them into gobbets, and he sent those into all the coasts of Israel, by the hands of messengers; and he said, Whoever goeth not out, and followeth not Saul and Samuel, so it shall be done to his oxen. Therefore the dread of the Lord went into the people (or And so the fear of the Lord went into the people), and they went out as one man.

8And Saul numbered them in Bezek; and three hundred thousand were there of the sons of Israel; and of the men of Judah were thirty thousand. (And Saul counted, or registered, them in Bezek; and there were three hundred thousand of the sons of Israel; and thirty thousand of the men of Judah.)

9And they said to the messengers that came, Thus ye shall say to the men that be in Jabesh of Gilead, Tomorrow shall be health to you, when the sun is hot, (or Tomorrow, help shall come to you, when the sun is hot). Then the messengers came, and told to the men of Jabesh; the which were glad,

10and said to Ammon, Early we shall go out to you, and ye shall do to us all that pleaseth to you ¹. (and they said to the Ammonites, Early in the morning, we shall come out to you, and then ye can do to us all that pleaseth you.)

11And it was done, when the morrowtide came, Saul ordained the people into three parts; and he entered into the middle (of the) tents (of Ammon) in the waking of the morrowtide, and he smote Ammon till the day was hot; forsooth the residues were scattered, so that twain together were not left in them. (And it was done, when the morning came, Saul divided the people into three parts, or groups; and they entered into the midst of the tents of the Ammonites during the morning watch, and they struck down the Ammonites until the day was hot; and the rest of them scattered, so that two of them were not left together.)

12And the people said to Samuel, Who is this, that said, Saul shall not reign upon us? Give ye (up) the men, and we shall slay them.

13And Saul said, No man shall be slain in this day, for today the Lord hath made health in Israel. (And Saul said, No one shall be killed on this day, for today the Lord hath given victory to Israel.)

14And Samuel said to the people, Come ye, and go we into Gilgal, and renew we there the realm (or and let us renew our loyalty to the kingdom there).

15And all the people went into Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and they offered there peaceable sacrifices before the Lord. And Saul was glad there, and all the men of Israel greatly. (And all the people went to Gilgal, and there in Gilgal they made Saul king before the Lord; and they offered peace offerings there before the Lord. And Saul and all the men of Israel were exceedingly glad there.)