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¹ Then Nachash the `Ammonite came up, and encamped against Yavesh-Gil`ad: and all the men of Yavesh said to Nachash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you. ² Nachash the `Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Yisra'el. ³ The Zakenim of Yavesh said to him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Yisra'el; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to you. ⁴ Then came the messengers to Gevah of Sha'ul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

⁵ Behold, Sha'ul came following the oxen out of the field; and Sha'ul said, What ails the people that they weep? They told him the words of the men of Yavesh. ⁶ The Spirit of God came mightily on Sha'ul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly. ⁷ He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Yisra'el by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn't come forth after Sha'ul and after Shemu'el, so shall it be done to his oxen. The dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man. ⁸ He numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Yisra'el were three hundred thousand, and the men of Yehudah thirty thousand. ⁹ They said to the messengers who came, Thus shall you tell the men of Yavesh-Gil`ad, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. The messengers came and told the men of Yavesh; and they were glad. <sup>10</sup> Therefore the men of Yavesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you. <sup>11</sup> It was so on the next day, that Sha'ul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the `Ammonim until the heat of the day: and it happened, that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

¹² The people said to Shemu'el, Who is he who said, Shall Sha'ul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. ¹³ Sha'ul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for today the LORD has worked deliverance in Yisra'el. ¹⁴ Then said Shemu'el to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. ¹⁵ All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Sha'ul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD; and there Sha'ul and all the men of Yisra'el rejoiced greatly.