Part 9

09:010:017 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;

09:010:018 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

09:010:019 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

09:010:020 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

09:010:021 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

09:010:022 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.

09:010:023 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

09:010:024 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

09:010:025 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

09:010:026 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

09:010:027 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.

09:011:001 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

09:011:002 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

09:011:003 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

09:011:004 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

09:011:005 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

09:011:006 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

09:011:007 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

09:011:008 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

09:011:009 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

09:011:010 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

09:011:011 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

09:011:012 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

09:011:013 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

09:011:014 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

09:011:015 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

09:012:001 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

09:012:002 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.