1
And it was done as after a month, Nahash of Ammon went up, and began to fight against Jabesh of Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Have thou us bound in peace (Make thou a covenant, or a bond of peace, with us), and we shall serve thee.
2
And Nahash of Ammon answered to them, In this I shall smite (a) bond of peace with you, that I put out the right eyes of all you, and that I put you to be reproof in all Israel. (And Nahash of Ammon answered to them, Only in this shall I strike a covenant with you, that I put out all of your right eyes, and that I bring reproach, or disgrace, upon all Israel.)
3
And the elder men of Jabesh said to him, Grant thou to us seven days, that we send messengers to all the coasts of Israel; and if none be that defend us, we shall go out to thee. (And the elders of Jabesh said to him, First grant thou us seven days, so that we can send messengers into all the coasts of Israel; and if there be none who will defend us, then we shall come out to thee.)
4
Then messengers came into Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words, while the people heard; and all the people raised (up) their voice, and wept.
5
And lo! Saul came from the field, and he followed [the] oxen; and he said, What hath the people, for it weepeth? (and he said, What maketh the people weep?) And they told to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
6
And the Spirit of the Lord fell at once into Saul, when he had heard these words, and his fierce wrath was greatly stirred.
7
And he took ever either ox, and he cut them into gobbets, and he sent those into all the coasts of Israel, by the hands of messengers; and he said, Whoever goeth not out, and followeth not Saul and Samuel, so it shall be done to his oxen. Therefore the dread of the Lord went into the people (And so the fear of the Lord went into the people), and they went out as one man.