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The First
Book of Samuel 11
And it came to pass about a month after this that Naas,
the Ammonite came up, and began to fight against Jabes
Galaad. And all the men of Jabes said to Naas: Make
a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
And Naas the Ammonite answered them: On this condition
will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out
all your right eyes, and make you a reproach in all
Israel.
And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven
days, that we may send messengers to all the coasts
of Israel: and if there be no one to defend us, we will
come out to thee.
The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and
they spoke these words in the hearing of the people:
and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
And behold Saul came, following oxen out of the field,
and he said: What aileth the people that they weep?
And they told him the words of the men of Jabes.
And the spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had
heard these words, and his anger was exceedingly kindled.
And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and
sent them into all the coasts of Israel by messengers,
saying: Whosoever shall not come forth, and follow Saul
and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the
fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went
out as one man.
And he numbered them in Bezec: and there were of the
children of Israel three hundred thousand: and of the
men of Juda thirty thousand.
And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall
you say to the men of Jabes Galaad: Tomorrow, when the
sun shall be hot, you shall have relief. The messengers
therefore came, and told the men of Jabes: and they
were glad.
And they said: In the morning we will come out to you:
and you shall do what you please with us.
And it came to pass, when the morrow was come that Saul
put the people in three companies: and he came into
the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and he slew
the Ammonites until the day grew hot, and the rest were
scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said:
Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men and we will
kill them.
And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day, because
the Lord this day hath wrought salvation in Israel:
And Samuel said to the people: Come and let us go to
Galgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.
And all the people went to Galgal, and there they made
Saul king before the Lord in Galgal, and they sacrificed
there victims of peace before the Lord. And there Saul
and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly
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