| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1So after a month, Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh told Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." | 1Nahash the Ammonite marched against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us and we will serve you." |
| 2Nahash the Ammonite told them, "I'll make a covenant with you on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel." | 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!" |
| 3The elders of Jabesh told him, "Leave us alone for seven days so that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if no one delivers us, we will come out to you and surrender." | 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you." |
| 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported the terms to the people, all the people cried loudly. | 4When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly. |
| 5Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen and he said, "What's with the people? Why are they crying?" They reported to him what the men of Jabesh had said. | 5Now Saul was walking behind the oxen as he came from the field. Saul asked, "What has happened to the people? Why are they weeping?" So they told him about the men of Jabesh. |
| 6When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came on him, and he was very angry. | 6The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. |
| 7He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers through all the territory of Israel: "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out and join Saul and Samuel!" The fear of the LORD fell on the people and they came out as one man. | 7He took a pair of oxen and cut them up. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, who said, "Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel should expect this to be done to his oxen!" Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they went out as one army. |
| 8Saul mustered them at Bezek, and there were 300,000 Israelis and 30,000 men of Judah. | 8When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000 strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000. |
| 9They told the messengers who had come, "You are to say this to the men of Jabesh-gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be delivered.'" The messengers went and reported to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced. | 9They said to the messengers who had come, "Here's what you should say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: 'Tomorrow deliverance will come to you when the sun is fully up.'" When the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh Gilead, they were happy. |
| 10The men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you and surrender. Then you can do whatever you want to us." | 10The men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you and you can do with us whatever you wish." |
| 11The next day Saul separated the people into three companies. They came into the camp during the morning watch, and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered so that no two of them remained together. | 11The next day Saul placed the people in three groups. They went to the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and struck them down until the hottest part of the day. The survivors scattered; no two of them remained together. |
| 12The people told Samuel, "Who said, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Bring them to us and we will put them to death!" | 12Then the people said to Samuel, "Who were the ones asking, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Hand over those men so we may execute them!" |
| 13But Saul said, "Let no one be put to death this day, because today the LORD has delivered Israel." | 13But Saul said, "No one will be killed on this day. For today the LORD has given Israel a victory!" |
| 14Then Samuel told the people, "Come, let's go to Gilgal and reaffirm the kingship there." | 14Samuel said to the people, "Come on! Let's go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there." |
| 15So all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king in the LORD's presence in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings in the LORD's presence, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. | 15So all the people went to Gilgal, where they established Saul as king in the LORD's presence. They offered up peace offerings there in the LORD's presence. Saul and all the Israelites were very happy. |
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