1 Samuel 11:7-11 ▼

7 Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: |This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who doesn't follow Saul and Samuel [into battle].| So the people became terrified by the LORD, and they came out united [behind Saul].

8 When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were 300,000 troops from Israel and 30,000 troops from Judah.

9 They told the messengers who had come, |This is what you are to say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun gets hot, you will be rescued.' | When the men of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed.

10 They said [to Nahash], |Tomorrow we'll surrender to you, and you may do to us whatever you think is right.|

11 The next day Saul arranged the army in three divisions. They came into the [Ammonite] camp during the morning hours and continued to defeat the Ammonites until it got hot that day. The survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.