Read the Modern Pastor’s Version
Select a book and chapter to read the MPV in modern, pastor-shaped English. This view shows the reading edition of the text in paragraphs.
Currently viewing: 1 Samuel 11 · MPV reading edition
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead. The people of Jabesh said to him, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." But Nahash had a condition: he would gouge out their right eyes and leave the rest of Israel in shame.
The elders of Jabesh pleaded for mercy, asking Nahash for seven days' respite. Meanwhile, messengers rushed to Gibeah of Saul, telling the people about the dire situation in Jabesh. The people all lifted up their voices and wept at the news.
Saul had been working in the field with his herd when he heard what was happening. He asked his servants, "What's wrong with the people? Why are they crying?" They told him about Nahash's cruel proposal for Jabesh. At that moment, Saul felt the Spirit of God come upon him, and his anger burned intensely.
Saul took a yoke of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout all Israel as a warning to anyone who refused to follow him. He sent messengers saying, "If you don't join me and Samuel tomorrow, you'll suffer the same fate as these oxen." The fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they rallied together, coming out in large numbers.
When Saul counted them at Bezek, there were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah. The messengers returned to Jabesh-gilead with a reassuring message: "Tomorrow, when the sun is high, you'll have help." The people of Jabesh were overjoyed.
The next day, Saul divided his troops into three groups and attacked the Ammonites at dawn. They fought bravely until the heat of the day, scattering their enemy so that no two Ammonites were left together. When the battle was won, the Israelites asked Samuel to identify those who had questioned whether Saul should be king.
Samuel said, "Don't put anyone to death today, for today the Lord has saved us." The people agreed not to take vengeance on their fellow Israelites. Instead, they all went to Gilgal together, reaffirming their commitment to having Saul as their king before the Lord. There, they offered sacrifices of peace offerings and rejoiced greatly with Saul and all the men of Israel.