| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Soon Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” | 1Nahash the Ammonite marched against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us and we will serve you." |
| 2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.” | 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!" |
| 3“Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” | 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you." |
| 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud. | 4When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly. |
| 5Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh. | 5Now Saul was walking behind the oxen as he came from the field. Saul asked, "What has happened to the people? Why are they weeping?" So they told him about the men of Jabesh. |
| 6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. | 6The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. |
| 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man. | 7He took a pair of oxen and cut them up. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, who said, "Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel should expect this to be done to his oxen!" Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they went out as one army. |
| 8And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah. | 8When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000 strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000. |
| 9So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’ ” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced. | 9They said to the messengers who had come, "Here's what you should say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: 'Tomorrow deliverance will come to you when the sun is fully up.'" When the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh Gilead, they were happy. |
| 10Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.” | 10The men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you and you can do with us whatever you wish." |
| 11The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together. | 11The next day Saul placed the people in three groups. They went to the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and struck them down until the hottest part of the day. The survivors scattered; no two of them remained together. |
| 12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!” | 12Then the people said to Samuel, "Who were the ones asking, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Hand over those men so we may execute them!" |
| 13But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” | 13But Saul said, "No one will be killed on this day. For today the LORD has given Israel a victory!" |
| 14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” | 14Samuel said to the people, "Come on! Let's go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there." |
| 15So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly. | 15So all the people went to Gilgal, where they established Saul as king in the LORD's presence. They offered up peace offerings there in the LORD's presence. Saul and all the Israelites were very happy. |
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