1Then Nahash, the Ammonite, came up, and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2And Nahash, the Ammonite, answered, “On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may gouge out all your right eyes, as a reproach upon all Israel.” 3And the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days to send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”

4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and reported this to the people; and they all raised their voices, and wept. 5And just then, Saul came following his oxen out of the field he had been plowing; and asked, “Why are the people weeping?” And they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard the news, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces throughout all the borders of Israel by messengers, saying, “Whoever does not follow Saul and Samuel, so shall this be done to his oxen.” And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8And when he numbered them in Bezek, there were three hundred thousand; and those of Judah numbered thirty thousand.

9And they told the messengers who came from Jabesh-gilead, “Tell this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.’” And the messengers returned and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh replied to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us all that seems good to you.” 11And that next day, Saul divided his men into three companies; and they broke into the camp of the Ammonites during the morning watch (last watch of the night), and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. And the survivors were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12And the people said to Samuel, “Who are those who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring them here, that we may put them to death.” 13But Saul said, “No Israelite shall be put to death this day; for today the LORD has brought salvation in Israel.” 14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and reaffirm the kingdom there.” 15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king in the presence of the LORD; and there they gave sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.