1 And Nahash the Ammonite went up and camped against Jabesh-Gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant {berit: binding agreement} with us, and we will serve {avad: pledge submission} you.”
2 And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “By this I will make a covenant with you: by gouging out the right eye {ein: physical eye} of every one of you, and I will make it a disgrace {kherpa: public shame} upon all Israel.”
3 Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Grant us seven days’ reprieve {heref: temporary relief}, so that we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel. If there is no one to deliver us {moshia: deliverer}, we will come out to you.”
4 And the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported the words {devarim: official report} in the hearing of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept {vayivku: mourned loudly}.
5 And behold, Saul came after the cattle from the field, and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people that they are weeping {yivku: expressing sorrow}?” Then they recounted to him the words of the men {anshei: townsmen} of Jabesh.
6 And the Spirit of God {Elohim, Divine Empowerer} rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger {appo: burning impulse} was greatly aroused.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the terror of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Judge} fell upon the people {am: covenant assembly}.
8 And he mustered {paqad: officially assembled} them at Bezek, and the sons {benei: tribal regiments} of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah were thirty thousand.
9 And they said to the messengers who were coming, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead: ‘Tomorrow deliverance {teshua: saving intervention} will be for you, as the heat of the sun {kchom: midday certainty}.’ ” Then the messengers came and reported to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.
10 And the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will go out to you, and you shall do for us whatever is good {hatov: appropriate and pleasing} in your eyes {eineikhem: your discernment}.”
11 And it happened on the next day that Saul {Sha’ul: military leader} arranged the people into three divisions; they entered into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that the survivors scattered, and there were not two of them left together {yachad: in unity}.
12 Then the people said to Samuel {shmuel: divine listener}, “Who is the one who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Give us the men {anashim: male offenders}, and we will put them to death.”
13 But Saul said, “No man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD {YHWH, Mighty Deliverer} has accomplished salvation {teshuah: saving victory} for Israel.”
14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Go, and let us go to Gilgal {gilgal: covenant site}, and there let us renew the kingship {melukhah: royal authority}.”
15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD {YHWH, Divine Witness}, and there they offered peace offerings {shelamim: offerings of well-being}, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there greatly.