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1 Samuel chapter 11

English Standard Version

1Then 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." 2But 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." 3The 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." 4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.
5Now, 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. 6And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7He 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. 8When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9And 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. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you." 11And 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.
12Then 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." 13But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel." 14Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom." 15So 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.
New International Version

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 only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel."
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 reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. 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 came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 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. 8When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and those of Judah thirty thousand.
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. 10They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you like."
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.
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 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 there renew the kingship." 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.
New American Standard Bible

1Now Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, 'Make a covenant with us and we will serve you.' 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, 'I will make it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and thereby I will inflict a disgrace on all Israel.' 3So the elders of Jabesh said to him, 'Allow us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.' 4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people raised their voices and wept.
5Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, and Saul said, 'What is the matter with the people that they weep?' So they reported to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry. 7He then took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, 'Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.' Then the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out as one person. 8He counted them in Bezek; and the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah, thirty thousand. 9They said to the messengers who had come, 'This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.’?' So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced. 10Then the men of Jabesh said, 'Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.' 11The next morning Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and struck and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12Then the people said to Samuel, 'Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, so that we may put them to death!' 13But Saul said, 'Not a single person shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has brought about victory in Israel.'
14Then Samuel said to the people, 'Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.' 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Christian Standard Bible

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."
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"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, Saul’s hometown, and told the terms to the people, all wept aloud. 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 these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously. 7He took a team of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory 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.
8Saul counted them at Bezek. There were three hundred thousand Israelites and thirty thousand men from Judah. 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 whatever you want to us."
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.
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 will be executed this day, for today the Lord has provided deliverance in Israel."
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 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 rejoiced greatly.
New Living Translation

1About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. 'Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,' they pleaded.
2All right,' Nahash said, 'but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!'
3Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!' replied the elders of Jabesh. 'If no one comes to save us, we will agree to your terms.'
4When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears. 5Saul had been plowing a field with his oxen, and when he returned to town, he asked, 'What’s the matter? Why is everyone crying?' So they told him about the message from Jabesh.
6Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. 7He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: 'This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!' And the Lord made the people afraid of Saul’s anger, and all of them came out together as one. 8When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah.
9So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, 'We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!' There was great joy throughout the town when that message arrived!
10The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, 'Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.' 11But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
12Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, 'Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!'
13But Saul replied, 'No one will be executed today, for today the Lord has rescued Israel!'
14Then Samuel said to the people, 'Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom.' 15So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the Lord they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy.
King James Version

1Then 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.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4Then 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. 5And, 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.
6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7And 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. 8And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9And 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. 10Therefore 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.
11And 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. 12And 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. 13And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. 14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15And 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.
New King James Version

1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
2And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”
3Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.”
4So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.
7So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.” And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8When he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9And they said to the messengers who came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.’ ” Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you.”
11So it was, on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”
13But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”
14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

What does 1 Samuel chapter 11 mean?

After Saul has been selected as Israel's new king (1 Samuel 10:17–19), a national crisis takes place. Nahash, king of the Ammonites, lays siege to a city on the eastern edge of Israelite territory. Jabesh-gilead was in the region known as Transjordan, east of the Jordan River and close to Ammonite (Genesis 19:38) territory. As it happens, this was territory associated with Saul's tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1–2).

The elders of Jabesh quickly realize that Nahash could destroy their city and kill them all. To avoid that, they offer to make a treaty. Nahash, though, has plans to defeat all of Israel. He tells the elders of Jabesh he will only agree to a treaty if they gouge out their right eyes . His explicit reason is to humiliate and shame the people. The elders tell Nahash they will give him their decision within one week; they send out messengers to see if anyone in Israel will come to fight for them (1 Samuel 11:1–3).

The people of Gibeah, Saul's hometown, weep when they receive this news. God's Spirit rushes on Saul once more, and he becomes angry. He cuts up the oxen he has just brought in from the field and sends the pieces out to all the territories of Israel with a message: this is what will be done to your oxen if you do not come out to fight against the Ammonites with Saul and Samuel. The people respond in unity, amassing an enormous army (1 Samuel 11:4–8).

Israel's forces musters at Bezek, not far from Jabesh. The messengers from Jabesh are sent back to report the good news that the city will be saved by the time the sun is hot on the following day. The elders of the city then report to Nahash that they will come out on the next day and allow the Ammonites to do whatever they want to them. Saul divides Israel's forces into three companies and attacks during the pre-dawn hours. Israel easily defeats the Ammonites. The survivors run for their lives (1 Samuel 11:9–11).

The people now fully embrace Saul as their king and call for those who opposed him earlier (1 Samuel 10:27) to be put to death. Saul wisely and mercifully rejects petty revenge and instead focuses attention of the Lord's work on Israel's behalf. Samuel calls for the nation to gather at Gilgal and reaffirm Saul's rule . Peace offerings are sacrificed. Saul and the people celebrate together (1 Samuel 11:12–15).
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