June
9
1
Samuel 11, 12
1Sa
11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh
Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant
with us, and we will serve you.
1Sa
11:2 Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make
it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it
for a reproach on all Israel.
1Sa
11:3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days' respite,
that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then,
if there be none to save us, we will come out to you.
1Sa
11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these
words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their
voice, and wept.
1Sa
11:5 Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul
said, What ails the people that they weep? They told him the words of
the men of Jabesh.
1Sa
11:6 The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when he heard those
words, and his anger was kindled greatly.
1Sa
11:7 He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them
throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers,
saying, Whoever doesn't come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so
shall it be done to his oxen. The dread of Yahweh fell on the people,
and they came out as one man.
1Sa
11:8 He numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were
three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
1Sa
11:9 They said to the messengers who came, Thus you shall tell the
men of Jabesh Gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall
have deliverance. The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and
they were glad.
1Sa
11:10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to
you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.
1Sa
11:11 It was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three
companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning
watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it
happened, that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of
them were left together.
1Sa
11:12 The people said to Samuel, Who is he who said, Shall Saul
reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
1Sa
11:13 Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for
today Yahweh has worked deliverance in Israel.
1Sa
11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal,
and renew the kingdom there.
1Sa
11:15 All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king
before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace
offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel
rejoiced greatly.
1Sa
12:1 Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have listened to your
voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
1Sa
12:2 Now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and
gray-headed; and behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked
before you from my youth to this day.
1Sa
12:3 Here I am: witness against me before Yahweh, and before his
anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or
whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I
taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
1Sa
12:4 They said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither
have you taken anything of any man's hand.
1Sa
12:5 He said to them, Yahweh is witness against you, and his
anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my
hand. They said, He is witness.
1Sa
12:6 Samuel said to the people, It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and
Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
1Sa
12:7 Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before
Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to
you and to your fathers.
1Sa
12:8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to
Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your
fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.
1Sa
12:9 But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the
hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of
the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they
fought against them.
1Sa
12:10 They cried to Yahweh, and said, We have sinned, because we
have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth:
but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve
you.
1Sa
12:11 Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel,
and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and
you lived in safety.
1Sa
12:12 When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon
came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us;
when Yahweh your God was your king.
1Sa
12:13 Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you
have asked for: and behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.
1Sa
12:14 If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his
voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, and both you
and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your
God, well:
1Sa
12:15 but if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel
against the commandment of Yahweh, then will the hand of Yahweh be
against you, as it was against your fathers.
1Sa
12:16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which
Yahweh will do before your eyes.
1Sa
12:17 Isn't it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he
may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your
wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in
asking for a king.
1Sa
12:18 So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain
that day: and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
1Sa
12:19 All the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to
Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins
this evil,
to ask us a king.
1Sa
12:20 Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid; you have
indeed done all this evil; yet don't turn aside from following
Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart:
1Sa
12:21 and don't turn aside; for then
would you go after vain things which
can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
1Sa
12:22 For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name's
sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to himself.
1Sa
12:23 Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin
against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in
the good and the right way.
1Sa
12:24 Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart;
for consider how great things he has done for you.
1Sa
12:25 But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed,
both you and your king."