Book 08 : NEVIIM - I SAMUEL - Chapter 011
11:001
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against
Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash: `Make a covenant with
us, and we will serve thee.
11:002
And Nahash the Ammonite said unto 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 upon all Israel.
11:003
And the elders of Jabesh said unto him: 'Give us seven
days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel; and
then, if there be none to deliver us, we will come out to thee.
11:004
Then came the messengers to Gibeath-shaul, and spoke these
words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and
wept
11:005
And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field;
and Saul said: 'What aileth the people that they weep?' And they told him the
words of the men of Jabesh
11:006
And the spirit of G-d came mightily upon Saul when he heard
those words, and his anger was kindled greatly
11:007
And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and
sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers,
saying: 'Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be
done unto his oxen.' And the dread of HaShem fell on the people, and they came
out as one man
11:008
And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel
were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand
11:009
And they said unto the messengers that came: 'Thus shall ye
say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead: To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye
shall have deliverance.' And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and
they were glad
11:010
And 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.
11:011
And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in
three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch,
and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and it came to pass, that
they that remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together
11:012
And 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.
11:013
And Saul said: 'There shall not a man be put to death this
day; for to-day HaShem hath wrought deliverance in Israel.
11:014
Then said Samuel to the people: 'Come and let us go to
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
11:015
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made
Saul king before HaShem in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of
peace-offerings before HaShem; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced
greatly
Book 08 : NEVIIM - I SAMUEL - Chapter 011
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