1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition I will make a covenant with you, to bore out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.

4 So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke the words in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5 And behold, Saul was coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, What is with the people, that they weep? And they recounted to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger burned greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whoever does not come out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen. And the fear of Jehovah fell on the people, and they came out as one man.

8 And when he numbered them at Bezek, the sons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they said to the messengers who came, Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. And the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever is good in your eyes.

11 So it was, the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 And the people said to Samuel, Who is he who said, Shall Saul reign over us? Set forth the men, that we may put them to death.

13 But Saul said, Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today Jehovah has worked deliverance in Israel.

14 And Samuel said to the people, Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.

15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal. There they slaughtered sacrifices of peace offerings before Jehovah, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

1 ENTÃO subiu Naás, amonita, e sitiou a Jabes-Gileade: e disseram todos os homens de Jabes a Naás: Faze aliança conosco, e te serviremos. 2 Porém Naás, amonita, lhes disse: Com esta condição farei aliança convosco: que a todos vos arranque o olho direito, e assim ponha esta afronta sobre todo o Israel. 3 Então os anciãos de Jabes lhe disseram: Deixa-nos por sete dias, para que enviemos mensageiros por todos os termos de Israel, e, não havendo ninguém que nos livre, então sairemos a ti. 4 E, vindo os mensageiros a Gibeá de Saul, falaram estas palavras aos ouvidos do povo. Então todo o povo levantou a sua voz, e chorou. 5 E eis que Saul vinha do campo, atrás dos bois; e disse Saul: Que tem o povo, que chora? E contaram-lhe as palavras dos homens de Jabes. 6 Então o espírito de Deus se apoderou de Saul, ouvindo estas palavras: e acendeu-se em grande maneira a sua ira. 7 E tomou um par de bois, e cortou-os em pedaços, e os enviou a todos os termos de Israel pelas mãos dos mensageiros, dizendo: Qualquer que não sair atrás de Saul e atrás de Samuel, assim se fará aos seus bois. Então caiu o temor do Senhor sobre o povo, e saíram como um só homem. 8 E contou-os em Bezeque: e houve dos filhos de Israel trezentos mil, e dos homens de Judá trinta mil. 9 Então disseram aos mensageiros que vieram: Assim direis aos homens de Jabes-Gileade: Amanhã em aquecendo o sol, vos virá livramento. Vindo pois os mensageiros, e anunciando-o aos homens de Jabes, se alegraram. 10 E os homens de Jabes disseram: Amanhã sairemos a vós; então nos fareis conforme a tudo o que parece bem aos vossos olhos. 11 E sucedeu que ao outro dia Saul pôs o povo em três companhias, e vieram ao meio do arraial pela vela da manhã, e feriram a Amom, até que o dia aqueceu: e sucedeu que os restantes se espalharam, que não ficaram dois deles juntos. 12 Então disse o povo a Samuel: Quem é aquele que dizia que Saul não reinaria sobre nós? Dai cá aqueles homens, e os mataremos. 13 Porém Saul disse: Hoje não morrerá nenhum, pois hoje tem obrado o Senhor um livramento em Israel. 14 E disse Samuel ao povo: Vinde, vamos nós a Gilgal e renovemos ali o reino. 15 E todo o povo partiu para Gilgal, e levantaram ali rei a Saul perante o Senhor em Gilgal, e ofereceram ali ofertas pacíficas perante o Senhor: e Saul se alegrou muito ali com todos os homens de Israel.