1 Samuel 11:1-11

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

1 aThen Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged bJabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, cMake a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” 2But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, dthat I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus ebring disgrace on all Israel.” 3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven daysrespite 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.” 4When the messengers came to fGibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, gand all the people wept aloud.

5Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6 hAnd the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7He took a yoke of oxen iand cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, jWhoever 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 kas one man. 8When he mustered them at lBezek, mthe people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9And 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 nsalvation.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, oTomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11 pAnd the next day Saul put the people qin three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

1 Samuel 31:11-13

11 rBut when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 sall the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh tand burned them there. 13And they took their bones uand buried them under vthe tamarisk tree in Jabesh and wfasted seven days.

2 Samuel 2:4-7

4And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David xking over the house of Judah.

When they told David, y“It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”
5David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, z“May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and aathe house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

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