1 Samuel 11:3-5

New International Reader's Version

³ The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days to report back to you. We’ll send messengers all through Israel. If no one comes to save us, we’ll hand ourselves over to you.”

⁴ The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul. They reported to the people the terms Nahash had required. Then all the people wept out loud. ⁵ Just then Saul was coming in from the fields. He was walking behind his oxen. He asked, “What’s wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” He was told what the men of Jabesh had said.