| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Soon Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” | 1Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you." |
| 2But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.” | 2Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I'll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone's right eye and humiliate all Israel." |
| 3“Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” | 3"Don't do anything to us for seven days," the elders of Jabesh said to him, "and let us send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one saves us, we will surrender to you." |
| 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud. | 4When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul's hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud. |
| 5Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh. | 5Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. "What's the matter with the people? Why are they weeping?" Saul inquired, and they repeated to him the words of the men from Jabesh. |
| 6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. | 6When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly took control of him, and his anger burned furiously. |
| 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man. | 7He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the land of Israel by messengers who said, "This is what will be done to the ox of anyone who doesn't march behind Saul and Samuel." As a result, the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they went out united. |
| 8And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah. | 8Saul counted them at Bezek. There were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men from Judah. |
| 9So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’ ” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced. | 9He told the messengers who had come, "Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: 'Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.'" So the messengers told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced. |
| 10Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.” | 10Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do whatever you want to us." |
| 11The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together. | 11The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions. During the morning watch, they invaded the Ammonite camp and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. There were survivors, but they were so scattered that no two of them were left together. |
| 12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!” | 12Afterward, the people said to Samuel, "Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Give us those men so we can kill them!" |
| 13But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” | 13But Saul ordered, "No one will be executed this day, for today the LORD has provided deliverance in Israel." |
| 14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” | 14Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let's go to Gilgal, so we can renew the kingship there." |
| 15So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly. | 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there in the LORD's presence they made Saul king. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings in the LORD's presence, and Saul and all the men of Israel greatly rejoiced. |
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