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1 Samuel 10:27-11:15
New International Version
1 Samuel 10:27-11:15
New International Version
27 But some scoundrels(A) said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts.(B) But Saul kept silent.
Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh
11 Nahash[a](C) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.(D) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty(E) 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(F) that I gouge(G) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace(H) on all Israel.”
3 The elders(I) of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue(J) us, we will surrender(K) to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah(L) of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept(M) 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(N) of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen,(O) cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel,(P) proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone(Q) who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one.(R) 8 When Saul mustered(S) them at Bezek,(T) 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(U) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”
11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;(V) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites(W) 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(X) 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,(Y) for this day the Lord has rescued(Z) Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal(AA) and there renew the kingship.(AB)” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal(AC) and made Saul king(AD) 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 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
1 Samuel 10:27-11:15
New American Standard Bible
1 Samuel 10:27-11:15
New American Standard Bible
27 But certain [a](A)useless men said, “How can this one save us?” And they despised him and (B)did not bring him a gift. But [b]he kept silent about it.
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
11 Now (C)Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged (D)Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make (E)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, (F)that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and thereby I will inflict (G)a disgrace on all Israel.” 3 So (H)the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Allow us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4 Then the messengers came (I)to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people (J)raised their voices and wept.
5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field (K)behind the oxen, and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they reported to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 Then (L)the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and [c]he became very angry. 7 He then took a yoke of oxen and (M)cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “(N)Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out (O)as one person. 8 He [d]counted them in (P)Bezek; and the (Q)sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah, thirty thousand. 9 They said to the messengers who had come, “This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced. 10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “(R)Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good [e]to you.” 11 The next morning Saul put the people (S)in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and struck and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people said to Samuel, “(T)Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ [f](U)Bring the men, so that we may put them to death!” 13 But Saul said, “(V)Not a single person shall be put to death this day, for today (W)the Lord has brought about [g]victory in Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to (X)Gilgal and (Y)renew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king (Z)before the Lord in Gilgal. There they also (AA)offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 10:27 Or wicked; lit sons of Belial
- 1 Samuel 10:27 A mutilated DSS fragment of uncertain reliability (4QSama) adds here that Nahash (11:1) gouged out the right eyes of Israelites
- 1 Samuel 11:6 Lit his anger burned exceedingly
- 1 Samuel 11:8 Lit mustered
- 1 Samuel 11:10 Lit in your sight
- 1 Samuel 11:12 Lit Give
- 1 Samuel 11:13 Or deliverance in
New International Version (NIV) 
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New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
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