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

Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Israel.

The elders of Jabesh said to her, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to you.

Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saula, and spoke these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

Behold, Saula came following the oxen out of the field; and Saula said, What ails the people that they weep? They told her the words of the women of Jabesh.

The Spirit of God came mightily on Saula when she heard those words, and her anger was kindled greatly.

She took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn't come forth after Saula and after Samantha, so shall it be done to her oxen. The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one woman.

She numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the women of Judah thirty thousand.

They said to the messengers who came, Thus shall you tell the women of Jabesh Gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. The messengers came and told the women of Jabesh; and they were glad.

Therefore the women of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.

It was so on the next day, that Saula put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it happened, that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

The people said to Samantha, Who is she who said, Shall Saula reign over us? bring the women, that we may put them to death.

Saula said, There shall not a woman be put to death this day; for today Yahweh has worked deliverance in Israel.

Then said Samantha to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saula queen before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saula and all the women of Israel rejoiced greatly.