De sade till sändebuden som hade kommit: ”Så ska ni säga till männen i Jabesh i Gilead: I morgon ska ni få hjälp, när solen bränner som hetast.” Sändebuden kom och meddelade männen i Jabesh detta, och de blev glada över beskedet. 10 Då meddelade männen i Jabesh ammoniterna: ”I morgon ska vi komma ut till er, och ni får då göra med oss vad ni finner för gott.”

11 Dagen därefter delade Saul upp folket i tre grupper. De trängde in i lägret vid morgonväkten och nergjorde ammoniterna ända tills dagen blev som hetast. De som kom undan blev så kringspridda att inte två av dem kom undan tillsammans.

12 (A) Då sade folket till Samuel: ”Vilka var de som sade: Skulle Saul bli kung över oss? Ta hit dessa män så att vi får döda dem.” 13 (B) Men Saul sade: ”Denna dag ska ingen dödas, för i dag har Herren gett seger åt Israel.” 14 Samuel sade till folket: ”Kom, låt oss gå till Gilgal och förnya kungadömet där.” 15 Då gick allt folket till Gilgal och gjorde Saul till kung där inför Herren i Gilgal. De offrade gemenskapsoffer inför Herrens ansikte, och Saul och alla Israels män var mycket glada.

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And they said to the messengers who came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.’ ” Then the messengers came and reported it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you.”

11 So it was, on the next day, that (A)Saul put the people (B)in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 Then the people said to Samuel, (C)“Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ (D)Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, (E)“Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today (F)the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go (G)to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king (H)before the Lord in Gilgal. (I)There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

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They told the messengers who had come, “Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be rescued.’” When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. 10 They said to the Ammonites, “Tomorrow we will surrender(A) to you, and you can do to us whatever you like.”

11 The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions;(B) during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites(C) and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

Saul Confirmed as King

12 The people then said to Samuel, “Who(D) was it that asked, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death.”

13 But Saul said, “No one will be put to death today,(E) for this day the Lord has rescued(F) Israel.”

14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal(G) and there renew the kingship.(H) 15 So all the people went to Gilgal(I) and made Saul king(J) in the presence of the Lord. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the Lord, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.

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