Chapter 11
1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against
Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash: `Make a covenant with
us, and we will serve thee.'
2 And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them: 'On this condition
will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it
for a reproach upon all Israel.'
3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him: 'Give us seven
days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel; and
then, if there be none to deliver us, we will come out to thee.'
4 Then came the messengers to Gibeath-shaul, and spoke these
words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and
wept.
5 And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field;
and Saul said: 'What aileth the people that they weep?' And they told him the
words of the men of Jabesh.
6 And the spirit of G-d came mightily upon Saul when he heard
those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and
sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers,
saying: 'Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be
done unto his oxen.' And the dread of HaShem fell on the people, and they came
out as one man.
8 And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel
were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9 And they said unto the messengers that came: 'Thus shall ye
say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead: To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye
shall have deliverance.' And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and
they were glad.
10 And the men of Jabesh said: 'To-morrow we will come out
unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.'
11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in
three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch,
and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and it came to pass, that
they that remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
12 And the people said unto Samuel: 'Who is he that said:
Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.'
13 And Saul said: 'There shall not a man be put to death this
day; for to-day HaShem hath wrought deliverance in Israel.'
14 Then said Samuel to the people: 'Come and let us go to
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.'
15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made
Saul king before HaShem in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of
peace-offerings before HaShem; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced
greatly.
Sources: Portions copyright © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant, All Rights Reserved
JPS Electronic Edition Copyright © 1998 by Larry Nelson, All Rights Reserved
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