1 Samuel 11:1-7 ▼

1 So after a month, Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh told Nahash, |Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.|

2 Nahash the Ammonite told them, |I'll make a covenant with you on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.|

3 The elders of Jabesh told him, |Leave us alone for seven days so that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if no one delivers us, we will come out to you and surrender.|

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported the terms to the people, all the people cried loudly.

5 Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen and he said, |What's with the people? Why are they crying?| They reported to him what the men of Jabesh had said.

6 When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came on him, and he was very angry.

7 He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers through all the territory of Israel: |This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out and join Saul and Samuel!| The fear of the LORD fell on the people and they came out as one man.