1 ARST About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon led his army across the Jordan River, and they surrounded the city of Jabesh in the region of Gilead. But all the men of Jabesh appointed someone who said to Nahash,“Make an agreement with us not to kill us, and then we will let you rule us.” BSB BSB: Then 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.”
2 ARST Nahash replied,“I will do that if you do one thing. Allow us to gouge out all the right eyes of your people. By doing that we will cause the people in other countries to despise all you Israelite people.” BSB BSB: But 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.”
3 ARST The leaders of Jabesh replied,“Do not attack us for the next seven days. During that time, we will send messengers throughout Israel to tell them what you are demanding. If no one will help us, then we will surrender to you.” BSB BSB: “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.”
4 ARST So the leaders of Jabesh sent messengers throughout Israel. When the messengers came to Gibeah, which was the city where Saul lived, and they told the people there about the situation, everyone started to cry. BSB BSB: When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.
5 ARST At that time, Saul was plowing in the field. When he returned home, he asked,“Why are all the people crying?” So they told him what the messengers from Jabesh had reported. BSB BSB: Just 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.
6 ARST Then God’ s Spirit came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry because of what Nahash wanted to do. BSB BSB: When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.
7 ARST He took two of his oxen and killed them and cut them into pieces. Then he sent messengers carrying those pieces throughout Israel to tell people this message:“Saul says that he cut this ox in pieces, and that he will do the same thing to the oxen of anyone who refuses to come with him and Samuel to fight the army from Ammon!” Then Yahweh caused all the people of Israel to be afraid of what Saul might do to them if they did not go and help Saul. So the men all gathered together. BSB BSB: He 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 came out together as one man.
8 ARST When Saul counted them at Bezek, he saw that there were 300, 000 Israelite men there, as well as thirty thousand men from the tribe of Judah. BSB BSB: And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah.
9 ARST So Saul sent messengers back to the people at Jabesh to tell them,“We will rescue you by the time the weather is hot tomorrow morning.” The messengers went and told the people of Jabesh, who became very happy when they heard the news. BSB BSB: So 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.
10 ARST Then the men of Jabesh told Nahash,“Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and then you can do to us whatever you want to.” BSB BSB: Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”
11 ARST But before the sun rose the next morning, Saul and his army arrived. He divided them into three groups. They rushed into the camp of the soldiers from Ammon, and attacked them. By noontime they had killed most of them, and those who were not killed scattered. Each of them who ran away ran away alone. BSB BSB: The 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.
12 ARST Then the people of Jabesh said to Samuel,“Where are those men who said that they did not want Saul to be our king? Bring them here, and we will kill them!” BSB BSB: Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”
13 ARST But Saul replied,“No, we are not going to execute anyone today, because this is the day that Yahweh has saved us Israelite people. It is a day to rejoice, not to kill anyone.” BSB BSB: But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”
14 ARST Then Samuel said to the people,“Let us all go to Gilgal, and there we will again proclaim that Saul is our king.” BSB BSB: Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”
15 ARST So they went to Gilgal. There, knowing that Yahweh was watching, they proclaimed that Saul was their king. Then they offered sacrifices to enable them to continue to have fellowship with Yahweh. And Saul and all the other Israelite people were very happy. BSB BSB: So 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.