1Nahash the Ammonite making war against Jabesh-gilead proposeth very reproachful terms to the inhabitants, who petition for a respite of seven days. 4They send to Saul, who bringeth them succours, and smiteth the Ammonites. 12The people call for the death of those who had vilified Saul, to which Saul will by no means consent. 14His kingdom is joyfully renewed to him at Gilgal.
1THEN aNahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against bJabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, cMake a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
a Ju. 3.13; 10.7,11; 11.4,8-33; 21.8,10. ch. 12.12. 2Sa. 10.1. b Ju. 21.8. c De. 20.1,3; 23.3.
2And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a cov enant with you, dthat I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
d Pr. 12.10. Da. 3.6. Re. 13.17. Es. 3.6. Nu. 16.14.
3And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, 1Give 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.
1Heb. Forbear us.
*coasts-borders, region, country.
4¶Then ecame the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and fall the people glifted up their voices, and wept.
e ch. 8.20; 10.26; 12.12; 14.16. Ju. 21.2. f Ju. 2.4; 21.2. g Ro. 12.15. 1Co. 12.26. He. 10.33; 13.3. Ga. 6.2.
5And, behold, Saul came hafter 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.
h ch. 9.1. Ps. 78.71.
6And the iSpirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his janger was kindled greatly.
i Ju. 3.10; 13.25; 14.19. ch. 10.6,10; 16.13. j Ex. 32.19. Nu. 12.3. v.2.
7And he took a yoke of oxen, and k*hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the *coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, lWhosoever 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 2with one consent.
*hewed-shaped by cutting or chopping.
*coasts-borders, region, country.
2Heb. as one man.
k Ju. 19.29; 21.8,11. Ge. 35.5. 1Ki. 18.23,33. l Ju. 21.5,8,10.
8And when he numbered them in mBezek, the children of Israel nwere three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
m Ju. 1.4,5. n ch. 15.4. Ju. 20.2,15-17. Nu. 2.3. Ge. 49.8-10. 2Sa. 24.9.
9And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have 3help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
3Or, deliverance.
10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, oTo morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
o v.3,9.
11And it was so on the *morrow, that pSaul put the people in qthree companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the r*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 stwo of them were not left together.
*morrow-morning.
*morning watch-2.00am to 6.00am.
p ch. 31.11-13. q Ju. 7.16; 9.43. r Ex. 14.24. Jos. 8.9. Ju. 7.19. Ps. 101.8. s Ex. 14.30. Ja. 2.13.
12¶And the people said unto Samuel, tWho is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
t ch. 10.27. Lu. 19.27.
13And Saul said, uThere shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day vthe LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
u 2Sa. 19.22. v Ex. 14.13.
14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and wrenew the kingdom there.
w ch. 10.8,24. 2Sa. 5.3. 1Ch. 12.38,39. Ho. 8.4; 13.10,11.
15And all the people went to Gilgal; and xthere they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there ythey sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings zbefore the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
x ch. 10.8. y Ge. 8.20; 31.54. Ex. 18.12; 24.6. 1Ch. 29.21-24. ch. 10.8. z Ju. 11.11. ch. 10.17.