1Nahash the Ammonite came and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, 'Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.'
2Nahash replied, 'I will make this treaty on one condition: that I gouge out the right eye of every man among you, bringing disgrace on all Israel.'
3The elders of Jabesh said, 'Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel. If no one comes to help us, we will surrender to you.'
4Messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived, and reported the news to the people. Everyone wept aloud.
5Just then Saul was returning from the fields behind his oxen. He heard the people weeping and asked, 'What is wrong with everyone?' They told him what had happened to the men of Jabesh.
6When Saul heard this, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he was filled with great anger.
7He took a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces, then sent the pieces throughout all of Israel with this message: 'This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle.' The fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.
8When Saul counted the forces at Bezek, there were three hundred thousand men from Israel and thirty thousand from Judah.
9He sent word to the messengers from Jabesh: 'Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead, By tomorrow, before the sun is high, you will be rescued.' The messengers returned to Jabesh and the people were overjoyed.
10The men of Jabesh told the Ammonites, 'Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do with us whatever you wish.'
11The next morning Saul divided his troops into three groups. They entered the Ammonite camp during the last watch of the night and fought until the heat of the day. Those who survived were so scattered that no two men were left together.
12The people said to Samuel, 'Who asked whether Saul would reign over us? Hand those men over and we'll put them to death!'
13But Saul said, 'No one will be put to death today, for this is the day the LORD has rescued Israel.'
14Then Samuel said to the people, 'Come, let us go to Gilgal and reaffirm the kingdom there.'
15All the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD. They offered fellowship offerings, and Saul and all the Israelites celebrated greatly.