Saul Rescues Jabesh-gilead

Nahash the Ammonite camped against Jabesh-gilead. The men of Jabesh asked for a covenant and said they would serve him. But Nahash answered with a cruel condition: he would gouge out their right eyes and bring disgrace on all Israel. The elders asked for seven days to send messengers through Israel and seek help.

The messengers came to Gibeah and told the people, and everyone wept. Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen. When he heard the message, God’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he burned with anger. He cut up a yoke of oxen and sent the pieces throughout Israel, calling the people to gather behind Saul and Samuel. The dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came together as one.

Saul counted the people at Bezek: three hundred thousand from Israel and thirty thousand from Judah. Then he sent word to Jabesh-gilead that by the next day, before the sun grew hot, they would be rescued. The messengers brought the news, and the people of Jabesh were glad. So they told Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do what seems good to you.”

The next day Saul divided the people into three companies. They entered the camp during the morning watch and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. The survivors were scattered so completely that no two of them were left together.

After the rescue, the people said to Samuel, “Who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring those men, so we may put them to death.” But Saul said no one should be put to death that day, because the Lord had rescued Israel. Then Samuel led the people to Gilgal to renew the kingdom. There they made Saul king before the Lord, offered peace offerings, and rejoiced greatly.