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the prophet besought God to show where the young man was； and to
produce him before them。 So when they had learned of God the
place where Saul was hidden； they sent men to bring him； and when
he was come； they set him in the midst of the multitude。 Now he
was taller than any of them； and his stature was very majestic。
6。 Then said the prophet； God gives you this man to be your king：
see how he is higher than any of the people； and worthy of this
dominion。〃 So as soon as the people had made acclamation； God
save the king； the prophet wrote down what would come to pass in
a book； and read it in the hearing of the king； and laid up the
book in the tabernacle of God； to be a witness to future
generations of what he had foretold。 So when Samuel had finished
this matter； he dismissed the multitude； and came himself to the
city Rainah； for it was his own country。 Saul also went away to
Gibeah； where he was born； and many good men there were who paid
him the respect that was due to him； but the greater part were
ill men； who despised him and derided the others； who neither did
bring him presents； nor did they in affection； or even in words；
regard to please him。
CHAPTER 5。
Saul's Expedition Against The Nation Of The Ammonites And Victory
Over Them And The Spoils He Took From Them。
1。 After one month； the war which Saul had with Nahash； the king
of the Ammonites； obtained him respect from all the people； for
this Nahash had done a great deal of mischief to the Jews that
lived beyond Jordan by the expedition he had made against them
with a great and warlike army。 He also reduced their cities into
slavery； and that not only by subduing them for the present；
which he did by force and violence； but by weakening them by
subtlety and cunning； that they might not be able afterward to
get clear of the slavery they were under to him； for he put out
the right eyes （9） of those that either delivered themselves to
him upon terms； or were taken by him in war； and this he did；
that when their left eyes were covered by their shields； they
might be wholly useless in war。 Now when the king of the
Ammonites had served those beyond Jordan in this manner； he led
his army against those that were called Gileadites； and having
pitched his camp at the metropolis of his enemies； which was the
city of Jabesh； he sent ambassadors to them； commanding them
either to deliver themselves up； on condition to have their right
eyes plucked out； or to undergo a siege； and to have their cities
overthrown。 He gave them their choice； whether they would cut off
a small member of their body； or universally perish。 However； the
Gileadites were so affrighted at these offers； that they had not
courage to say any thing to either of them； neither that they
would deliver themselves up； nor that they would fight him。 But
they desired that he would give them seven days' respite； that
they might send ambassadors to their countrymen； and entreat
their assistance； and if they came to assist them； they would
fight； but if that assistance were impossible to be obtained from
them； they said they would deliver themselves up to suffer
whatever he pleased to inflict upon them。
2。 So Nabash； contemning the multitude of the Gileadites and the
answer they gave； allowed them a respite； and gave them leave to
send to whomsoever they pleased for assistance。 So they
immediately sent to the Israelites； city by city； and informed
them what Nabash had threatened to do to them； and what great
distress they were in。 Now the people fell into tears and grief
at the hearing of what the ambassadors from Jabesh said； and the
terror they were in permitted them to do nothing more。 But when
the messengers were come to the city of king Saul； and declared
the dangers in which the inhabitants of Jabesh were； the people
were in the same affliction as those in the other cities； for
they lamented the calamity of those related to them。 And when
Saul was returned from his husbandry into the city； he found his
fellow citizens weeping； and when； upon inquiry； he had learned
the cause of the confusion and sadness they were in； he was
seized with a divine fury； and sent away the ambassadors from the
inhabitants of Jabesh； and promised them to come to their
assistance on the third day； and to beat their enemies before
sun…rising； that the sun upon its rising might see that they had
already conquered； and were freed from the fears they were under：
but he bid some of them stay to conduct them the right way to
Jabesh。
3。 So being desirous to turn the people to this war against the
Ammonites by fear of the losses they should otherwise undergo；
and that they might the more suddenly be gathered together； he
cut the sinews of his oxen； and threatened to do the same to all
such as did not come with their armor to Jordan the next day； and
follow him and Samuel the prophet whithersoever they should lead
them。 So they came together； out of fear of the losses they were
threatened with； at the appointed time。 And the multitude were
numbered at the city Bezek。 And he found the number of those that
were gathered together； besides that of the tribe of Judah； to be
seven hundred thousand； while those of that tribe were seventy
thousand。 So he passed over Jordan； and proceeded in marching all
that night； thirty furlongs； and came to Jabesh before
sun…rising。 So he divided the army into three companies； and fell
upon their enemies on every side on the sudden； and when they
expected no such thing； and joining battle with them； they slew a
great many of the Ammonites； as also their king Nabash。 This
glorious action was done by Saul； and was related with great
commendation of him to all the Hebrews； and he thence gained a
wonderful reputation for his valor： for although there were some
of them that contemned him before； they now changed their minds；
and honored him； and esteemed him as the best of men： for he did
not content himself with having saved the inhabitants of Jabesh
only； but he made an expedition into the country of the
Ammonites； and laid it all waste； and took a large prey； and so
returned to his own country most gloriously。 So the people were
greatly pleased at these excellent performances of Saul； and
rejoiced that they had constituted him their king。 They also made
a clamor against those that pretended he would be of no advantage
to their affairs； and they said； Where now are these men？ … let
them be brought to punishment； with all the like things that
multitudes usually say when they are elevated with prosperity；
against those that lately had despised the authors of it。 But
Saul； although he took the good…will and the affection of these
men very kindly； yet did he swear that he would not see any of
his countrymen slain that day； since it was absurd to mix this
victory； which God had given them； with the blood and slaughter
of those that were of the same lineage with themselves； and that
it was more agreeable to be men of a friendly disposition； and so
to betake themselves to feasting。
4。 And when Samuel had told them that he ought to confirm the
kingdom to Saul by a second ordination of him； they all came