| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 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 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." |
| 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.” | 2But 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“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.” | 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue 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 of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they 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 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. |
| 6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. | 6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. |
| 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 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. |
| 8And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah. | 8When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand. |
| 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. | 9They 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. |
| 10Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.” | 10They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like." |
| 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 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. |
| 12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!” | 12The 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." |
| 13But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” | 13But Saul said, "No one will be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued 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 us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship." |
| 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 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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