Y subió Nahas amonita^a y sitió a¹ Jabes de Galaad^b, y todos los hombres de Jabes dijeron a Nahas: Haz un pacto con nosotros y te serviremos^c. 2 Pero Nahas amonita les dijo: Lo haré con esta condición: que a todos vosotros os saque yo el ojo derecho^a; así haré que esto sea una afrenta sobre todo Israel^b. 3 Y los ancianos de Jabes le dijeron^a: Danos¹ siete días para que enviemos mensajeros por todo el territorio de Israel. Y si no hay quien nos libre, nos entregaremos² a ti. 4 Entonces los mensajeros fueron a Guibeá de Saúl^a y hablaron estas palabras a oídos del pueblo, y todo el pueblo alzó la voz y lloró^b. 5 Y sucedió que Saúl regresaba¹ del campo detrás de los bueyes^a, y dijo²: ¿Qué pasa con el pueblo que está llorando? Entonces le contaron las palabras de los mensajeros³ de Jabes.

6 Y el Espíritu de Dios vino con poder sobre Saúl^a al escuchar estas palabras, y Saúl se enojó grandemente¹. 7 Y tomando una yunta de bueyes, los cortó en pedazos^a y los mandó por todo el territorio de Israel por medio¹ de mensajeros, diciendo: Así se hará a los bueyes del que no salga en pos de Saúl y en pos de Samuel^b. Entonces el terror del SEÑOR cayó sobre el pueblo, y salieron como un solo hombre^c. 8 Y los contó¹ en Bezec^a, y los hijos de Israel eran trescientos mil^b y los hombres de Judá treinta mil. 9 Y dijeron a los mensajeros que habían venido: Así diréis a los hombres de Jabes de Galaad: «Mañana cuando caliente el sol seréis librados¹». Entonces los mensajeros fueron y lo anunciaron a los hombres de Jabes, yestos se regocijaron. 10 Entonces los hombres de Jabes dijeron a Nahas: Mañana saldremos a vosotros y podréis hacernos lo que os parezca bien^1a. 11 A¹ la mañana siguiente Saúl dispuso al pueblo en tres compañías^a; y entraron en medio del campamento a la vigilia de la mañana, e hirieron a los amonitas hasta que calentó el día. Y sucedió que los que quedaron fueron dispersados, no quedando dos de ellos juntos.

12 Y el pueblo dijo a Samuel: ¿Quién es el que dijo: «¿Ha de reinar Saúl sobre nosotros^a?». Traed a esos¹ hombres para que los matemos^b. 13 Pero Saúl dijo: A nadie se matará hoy^a, porque hoy el SEÑOR ha hecho liberación en Israel^b.

14 Entonces Samuel dijo al pueblo: Venid, vayamos a Gilgal^a y renovemos el reino allí^b. 15 Así que todo el pueblo fue a Gilgal, y allí en Gilgal, hicieron rey a Saúl delante del SEÑOR^a. Allí también ofrecieron sacrificios de las ofrendas de paz delante del SEÑOR^b; y se regocijaron grandemente allí Saúl y todos los hombres de Israel.

Now ^aNahash the Ammonite went up and besieged ^bJabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make ^ca covenant with us and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, ^athat I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and thereby I will inflict ^ba disgrace on all Israel.” 3 So ^athe elders of Jabesh said to him, “Allow us seven days to send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you.” 4 Then the messengers came ^ato Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people ^braised their voices and wept.

5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field ^abehind the oxen, and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they reported to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 Then ^athe Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and ¹he became very angry. 7 He then took a yoke of oxen and ^acut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “^bWhoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out ^cas one person. 8 He ¹counted them in ^aBezek; and the ^bsons of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah, thirty thousand. 9 They said to the messengers who had come, “This is what you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be saved.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they rejoiced. 10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “^aTomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good ¹to you.” 11 The next morning Saul put the people ^ain three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and struck and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “^aWho is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ ^1bBring the men, so that we may put them to death!” 13 But Saul said, “^aNot a single person shall be put to death this day, for today ^bthe LORD has brought about ¹victory in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to ^aGilgal and ^brenew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king ^abefore the LORD in Gilgal. There they also ^boffered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Now ^aNahash the Ammonite came up and ¹besieged ^bJabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make ^ca covenant with us and we will serve you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “I will make it with you on this condition, ^athat I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it ^ba reproach on all Israel.” 3 ^aThe elders of Jabesh said to him, “Let us alone for seven days, that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to deliver us, we will come out to you.” 4 Then the messengers came ^ato Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, and all the people ^blifted up their voices and wept.

5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field ^abehind the oxen, and ¹he said, “What is the matter with the people that they weep?” So they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 Then ^athe Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and ¹he became very angry. 7 He took a yoke of oxen and ^acut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “^bWhoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen.” Then the dread of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out ^cas one man. 8 He ¹numbered them in ^aBezek; and the ^bsons of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. 9 They said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.’” So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “^aTomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good ¹to you.” 11 The next morning Saul put the people ^ain three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, “^aWho is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ ^1bBring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “^aNot a man shall be put to death this day, for today ^bthe LORD has accomplished deliverance in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come and let us go to ^aGilgal and ^brenew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king ^abefore the LORD in Gilgal. There they also ^boffered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.