8
Saul gathered them at Bezek: there were 300,000 from Israel and 30,000 from Judah.
9
They said to the messengers from Jabesh, "Tell your people that before noon tomorrow they will be rescued." When the people of Jabesh received the message, they were overjoyed
10
and said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do with us whatever you wish."
11
That night Saul divided his men into three groups, and at dawn the next day they rushed into the enemy camp and attacked the Ammonites. By noon they had slaughtered them. The survivors scattered, each man running off by himself.
12
Then the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Where are the people who said that Saul should not be our king? Hand them over to us, and we will kill them!"
13
But Saul said, "No one will be put to death today, for this is the day the Lord rescued Israel."
14
And Samuel said to them, "Let us all go to Gilgal and once more proclaim Saul as our king."
15
So they all went to Gilgal, and there at the holy place they proclaimed Saul king. They offered fellowship sacrifices, and Saul and all the people of Israel celebrated the event.