| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you." |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel." |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you." |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, "What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?" Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9They told the messengers who had come, "Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.'" When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like." |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12The people then said to Samuel, "Who was it that asked, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death." |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13But Saul said, "No one will be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel." |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship." |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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