1 Samuel 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite went up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh begged Nahash, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be your subjects."	1 Then 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."
2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "This is my condition for a treaty with you: I must gouge out every man's right eye, that I may thus bring ignominy on all Israel."	2 But 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 put disgrace upon all Israel."
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him: "Give us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If no one rescues us, we will surrender to you."	3 The 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."
4 When the messengers arrived at Gibeah of Saul, they related the news to the people, all of whom wept aloud.	4 When the messengers came to Gibe-ah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people; and all the people wept aloud.
5 Just then Saul came in from the field, behind his oxen. "Why are the people weeping?" he asked. The message of the inhabitants of Jabesh was repeated to him.	5 Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, "What ails the people, that they are weeping?" So they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
6 As he listened to this report, the spirit of God rushed upon him and he became very angry.	6 And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.
7 Taking a yoke of oxen, he cut them into pieces, which he sent throughout the territory of Israel by couriers with the message, "If anyone does not come out to follow Saul (and Samuel), the same as this will be done to his oxen!" In dread of the LORD, the people turned out to a man.	7 He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of 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.
8 When he reviewed them in Bezek, there were three hundred thousand Israelites and seventy thousand Judahites.	8 When he mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9 To the messengers who had come he said, "Tell the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead that tomorrow, while the sun is hot, they will be rescued." The messengers came and reported this to the inhabitants of Jabesh, who were jubilant,	9 And 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 deliverance.'" When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad.
10 and said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you may do whatever you please with us."	10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you."
11 On the appointed day, Saul arranged his troops in three companies and invaded the camp during the dawn watch. They slaughtered Ammonites until the heat of the day; by then the survivors were so scattered that no two were left together.	11 And on the morrow Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 The people then said to Samuel: "Who questioned whether Saul should rule over us? Hand over the men and we will put them to death."	12 Then 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."
13 But Saul broke in to say, "No man is to be put to death this day, for today the LORD has saved Israel."	13 But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has wrought deliverance in Israel."
14 Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal to inaugurate the kingdom there."	14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom."
15 So all the people went to Gilgal, where, in the presence of the LORD, they made Saul king. They also sacrificed peace offerings there before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites celebrated the occasion with great joy.	15 So 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.