1Nahash the Meunite went 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.2Nahash the Meunite said to them, On this condition I will make a covenant with you: by gouging out every right eye of yours, and I will make it a reproach upon all Israel.3The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so that we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel; and if no one delivers us, we will come out to you."4The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke the words in the hearing of the people, and all the people lifted up their voices and wept.5Now Saul was coming after the herd from the field, and Saul said, What is wrong with the people that they are weeping? So they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.6Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.7He took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the messengers, saying, Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.8He mustered them at Bezek, and the people of Israel numbered three hundred thousand, while the men of Judah numbered thirty thousand.9They said to the incoming messengers, Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow you shall have deliverance when the sun is hot. So the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.10The men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good in your eyes.11The next day Saul divided the people into three companies, and they entered the camp during the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; the survivors were scattered so that no two of them remained together.