Back to BooksSimple English

1 Samuel

Tells about Samuel, the last judge, and the beginning of Israel's monarchy with King Saul and young David.

Chapter 11

Back to Chapters

1 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.

*Then Nahash from the Ammonites arrived and set up camp against Jabesh-Gilead. The men of Jabesh-Gilead asked Nahash, "Make a agreement with us, and we will be your servants."

2 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.

*Nahash said, "If you agree, I'll make a deal with you. In return, I will remove everyone's good eye and make it a shameful reminder for all the people of Israel."

3 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.

*The older people from Jabesh asked him for a break of seven days. They wanted to send messages to every part of Israel to see if anyone could help them. If nobody comes to save them after that, they will join him.

4 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.

*Then, the messengers went to a place called Gibeah, where Saul lived. They shared the news with the people there, and everyone started crying out loud.

5 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.

*And look, Saul returned from the flock in the field. He asked, "Why are the people crying?" They explained to him about the news from Jabesh's people.

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

*The Holy Spirit filled Saul with rage when he heard the news, causing him to become very angry.

7 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.

*He cut up oxen into pieces and sent them to different places in Israel using messengers. He said if anyone doesn't follow Saul and Samuel, this will happen to their oxen. This made people afraid of the Lord, and they all agreed to leave together.

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

*In Bezek, when he counted them, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men from Judah.

9 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.

*They told the messengers, "Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead, 'Tomorrow, when the sun is hot, you'll get help.' The messengers went and shared this with the people of Jabesh, and they were happy."

10 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.

*So, the people of Jabesh decided to come to them the next day and do whatever seemed right to the others.

11 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.

*The next day, Saul divided the people into three groups. They attacked the Ammonites during the early morning, killing them until it got too hot. Eventually, the remaining Ammonites were scattered, and none were left together in pairs.

12 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.

*The people asked Samuel, "Who told us Saul should be our leader? Show us those people so we can kill them."

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

*Saul said, "No one will die today, because the Lord has brought salvation to Israel."

14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

*Then Samuel told the people, "Let's go to Gilgal and restore the kingdom there."

15 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.

*Everyone gathered at Gilgal, where they made Saul their king in front of God. They offered peace sacrifices and everyone, including Saul and all the people of Israel, were very happy.

Back to Chapters

* work in progress, there will be mistakes

Copyright © 2025 - Gema369 All Rights Reserved