1 Samuel 11 - New International Version (NIV)

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

11 Nahash[a](A) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.(B) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty(C) with us, and we will be subject to you.”

2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition(D) that I gouge(E) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace(F) on all Israel.”

3 The elders(G) of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue(H) us, we will surrender(I) to you.”

4 When the messengers came to Gibeah(J) of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept(K) aloud. 5 Just 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 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit(L) of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen,(M) cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,(N) proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone(O) who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.(P) 8 When Saul mustered(Q) them at Bezek,(R) the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.

9 They 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 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender(S) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;(T) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites(U) and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who(V) was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today,(W) for this day the Lord has rescued(X) Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal(Y) and there renew the kingship.(Z)” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal(AA) and made Saul king(AB) in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 11:1 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls gifts. Now Nahash king of the Ammonites oppressed the Gadites and Reubenites severely. He gouged out all their right eyes and struck terror and dread in Israel. Not a man remained among the Israelites beyond the Jordan whose right eye was not gouged out by Nahash king of the Ammonites, except that seven thousand men fled from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh Gilead. About a month later, 1 Nahash

Cross references

  1. 1 Samuel 11:1 : S Ge 19:38; 1Sa 12:12; 2Sa 10:2; 17:27; 1Ch 19:1
  2. 1 Samuel 11:1 : Jdg 21:8; 1Sa 31:11; 2Sa 2:4, 5; 21:12
  3. 1 Samuel 11:1 : S Ex 23:32; S Jer 37:1
  4. 1 Samuel 11:2 : Ge 34:15
  5. 1 Samuel 11:2 : S Nu 16:14
  6. 1 Samuel 11:2 : 1Sa 17:26
  7. 1 Samuel 11:3 : S 1Sa 8:4
  8. 1 Samuel 11:3 : S Jdg 2:16
  9. 1 Samuel 11:3 : ver 10
  10. 1 Samuel 11:4 : S 1Sa 10:5, 26
  11. 1 Samuel 11:4 : S Ge 27:38; S Nu 25:6
  12. 1 Samuel 11:6 : S Jdg 3:10
  13. 1 Samuel 11:7 : S 1Sa 6:14
  14. 1 Samuel 11:7 : S Jdg 19:29
  15. 1 Samuel 11:7 : Jdg 21:5
  16. 1 Samuel 11:7 : S Jdg 20:1
  17. 1 Samuel 11:8 : Jdg 20:2
  18. 1 Samuel 11:8 : Jdg 1:4
  19. 1 Samuel 11:10 : ver 3
  20. 1 Samuel 11:11 : S Jdg 7:16
  21. 1 Samuel 11:11 : S Ge 19:38
  22. 1 Samuel 11:12 : S Dt 13:13; Lk 19:27
  23. 1 Samuel 11:13 : 2Sa 19:22
  24. 1 Samuel 11:13 : 1Sa 19:5; 1Ch 11:14
  25. 1 Samuel 11:14 : S Jos 10:43; S 1Sa 10:8
  26. 1 Samuel 11:14 : 1Sa 10:25
  27. 1 Samuel 11:15 : S Jos 5:9; 2Sa 19:15
  28. 1 Samuel 11:15 : 1Sa 12:1

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