Saul Defeats the Ammonites
Soon Nahash 1the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty 2with us, and we will serve you.” 1Sa 12:121Ki 20:34Ezk 17:13Gen 26:28Jdg 21:8Exo 23:32Job 41:41Sa 31:11-13
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.” 1Sa 17:26Gen 34:14Num 16:142Ki 18:31Exo 3:6Jdg 16:21Jer 39:7Pro 12:10
“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.”
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud. 1Sa 10:26Jdg 2:41Sa 15:341Sa 30:4Jdg 21:2Gal 6:21Co 12:261Sa 14:2
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. 1Ki 19:191Sa 9:1Gen 21:17Isa 22:1Jdg 18:23Psa 78:71
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. 1Sa 10:101Sa 16:13Jdg 6:34Jdg 13:25Jdg 14:6Jdg 3:10Jdg 11:29Eph 4:26 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.” Jdg 19:29Jdg 20:12Ch 14:142Ch 17:10Gen 35:5Jdg 21:5-11
Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man. And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 3men of Judah. 2Sa 24:9Jdg 1:4-51Sa 13:151Sa 15:42Ch 17:12-19Jdg 20:2 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.’” Psa 18:17
And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.
Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.” 1Sa 11:2-3
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. Jdg 7:16Exo 14:24Gen 22:14Jas 2:131Sa 11:21Sa 30:17-18Jdg 1:7Jdg 4:16
Saul Confirmed as King
Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!” 1Sa 10:27Luk 19:27Psa 21:8
But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” 1Sa 19:52Sa 19:22Exo 14:131Sa 14:45Exo 14:30Psa 44:4-8Isa 59:161Co 15:10
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” 1Sa 10:81Sa 7:161Ch 12:38-391Sa 10:24-251Sa 5:3
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. 1Sa 10:81Sa 10:171Ch 29:21-241Sa 12:13-151Sa 12:171Sa 8:19Exo 24:5Hos 13:10-11