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1 Samuel 11

English Standard Version



1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” (Ge 26:28; Ex 23:32; Ex 34:12; Ex 34:15; De 7:2; Jud 21:8; 1Sa 12:12; 1Ki 20:34; Eze 17:13) 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” (Ge 34:14; Nu 16:14; 1Sa 17:26) 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud. (Jud 2:4; Jud 21:2; 1Sa 10:26) 5 Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. (1Sa 10:6; 1Sa 10:10) 7 He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. (Jud 19:29; Jud 20:1; Jud 21:5; Jud 21:8; Jud 21:10) 8 When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (Jud 1:5; Jud 20:15; 2Sa 24:9) 9 And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. (1Sa 11:13) 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” (1Sa 11:3) 11 And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. (Jud 7:16; 1Sa 31:11) 



12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” (1Sa 10:27; Lu 19:27) 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel.” (Ex 14:13; 1Sa 11:9; 1Sa 19:5; 2Sa 19:22) 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (Jud 11:11; 1Sa 10:8; 1Sa 10:17; 1Sa 15:33) 

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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

1 Samuel 11

New International Version



1 Nahash[1] the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, ‘Make a treaty 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 that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.’ 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, ‘Give us seven days so that we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no-one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.’ 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept 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 of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7 He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, ‘This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.’ Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 8 When Saul mustered them at Bezek, 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 to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.’ 11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. 



12 The people then said to Samuel, ‘Who 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, for this day the Lord has rescued Israel.’ 14 Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.’ 15 So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration. 

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1 Samuel 11

King James Version

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days'respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. 14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

1 Samuel 11

New International Reader’s Version



1 Nahash was the king of Ammon. He and his army went up to Jabesh Gilead. They surrounded it and got ready to attack it. All the men of Jabesh spoke to Nahash. They said, ‘Make a peace treaty with us. Then we’ll be under your control.’ 2 Nahash, the king of Ammon, replied, ‘I will make a peace treaty with you. But I’ll do it only on one condition. You must let me put out the right eye of every one of you. I want to bring shame on the whole nation of Israel.’ 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. 6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully on him. He became very angry. 7 He got a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces. He sent the pieces by messengers all through Israel. They announced, ‘You must follow Saul and Samuel. If you don’t, this is what will happen to your oxen.’ The terror of the LORD fell on the people. So all of them came together with one purpose in mind. 8 Saul brought his army together at Bezek. There were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 from Judah. 9 The messengers who had come were told, ‘Go back and report to the men of Jabesh Gilead. Tell them, “By the hottest time of the day tomorrow, you will be rescued.” ’ The messengers went and reported it to the men of Jabesh. It made those men very happy. 10 They said to the people of Ammon, ‘Tomorrow we’ll hand ourselves over to you. Then you can do to us whatever you like.’ 11 The next day Saul separated his men into three groups. While it was still dark, they broke into the camp of the Ammonite army. They kept killing the men of Ammon until the hottest time of the day. Those who got away were scattered. There weren’t two of them left together anywhere. 



12 The people said to Samuel, ‘Who asked, “Is Saul going to rule over us?” Turn these men over to us. We’ll put them to death.’ 13 But Saul said, ‘No one will be put to death today! After all, this is the day the LORD has rescued Israel.’ 14 Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come on. Let’s go to Gilgal. There we’ll agree again to have Saul as our king.’ 15 So all the people went to Gilgal. There, with the LORD as witness, they made Saul their king. There they sacrificed friendship offerings to the LORD. And there Saul and all the Israelites celebrated with great joy. 

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Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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