1
And Nachash the Ammoni went up and encamped against Yavesh-Gilad. And all the men of Yavesh said to Nachash, “Cut a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”
2
And Nachash the Ammoni said to them, “On this condition I will cut it with you: that I gouge out every right eye among you and place it as a reproach upon all Yisra’el.”
3
And the elders of Yavesh said to him, “Leave us seven days, that we may send messengers throughout all the border of Yisra’el. And if there is no one to save us, then we will go out to you.”
4
And the messengers came to Givah of Shaul and spoke the words in the ears of the people, and all the people lifted up their voice and wept.
5
And see, Shaul came after the oxen from the field. And Shaul said, “What is with the people, that they are weeping?” And they recounted to him the words of the men of Yavesh.
6
And the Ruach of Elohim rushed upon Shaul when he heard these words, and his anger burned exceedingly.
7
And he took a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces and sent them throughout all the border of Yisra’el by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out after Shaul and after Shemu’el, thus shall it be done to his oxen.” And the dread of Yahuah fell upon the people, and they went out as one ish.
8
And he counted them at Bezeq, and the sons of Yisra’el were three hundred thousand, and the ish of Yehudah thirty thousand.
9
And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus you shall say to the men of Yavesh-Gilad: ‘Tomorrow, when the sun is hot, salvation shall be for you.’” And the messengers came and declared it to the men of Yavesh, and they rejoiced.
10
And the men of Yavesh said, “Tomorrow we will go out to you, and you may do to us according to all that is good in your eyes.”
11
And it came to pass on the next day that Shaul placed the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp during the morning watch and struck Ammon until the heat of the day. And it came to pass that those who remained were scattered, and not two of them were left together.
12
And the people said to Shemu’el, “Who is he who said, ‘Shall Shaul reign over us?’ Give the men, and we will put them to death.”
13
And Shaul said, “Not an ish shall be put to death this day, for today Yahuah has worked salvation in Yisra’el.”
14
And Shemu’el said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and there renew the kingdom.”
15
And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Shaul king before Yahuah in Gilgal. And there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahuah. And there Shaul and all the men of Yisra’el rejoiced exceedingly.