1 Samuel 11:1-6

New American Standard Bible 1995

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

11 Now ^(A)Nahash the Ammonite came up and ^[a]besieged ^(B)Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make ^(C)a covenant with us and we will serve you.” ² But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, ^(D)that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it ^(E)a reproach on all Israel.” ^3 (F)The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.” ⁴ Then the messengers came ^(G)to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people ^(H)lifted up their voices and wept.

⁵ Now behold, Saul was coming from the field ^(I)behind the oxen, and ^[b]he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh. ⁶ Then ^(J)the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and ^[c]he became very angry.