1 Samuel 11:3-5

New King James Version

³ Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to ^[a]save us, we will come out to you.”

⁴ So the messengers came ^(A)to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And ^(B)all the people lifted up their voices and wept. ⁵ Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.