Saul Becomes King before the Lord

A search of I Samuel 11 (KJV):

Nahash, an Ammonite, set up camp against Jabesh-gilead where the men there agreed to serve him if he made a covenant with them.  Nahash’s answer to the men of Jabesh was on the condition “…that [he] may thrust out all [their] right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel” (v. 2).  With that covenant answer, the elders of Jabesh requested a seven-day respite in order to find someone in all of Israel to save them.  If they did not find someone to save them, the elders agreed to come out to Nahash (v. 3).

The people of Gibeah were the first to receive word from the messengers of Jabesh-gilead which caused all of them to lift their voices and weep (v.4).  Saul was following after a herd, when he asked, “What aileth the people that they weep?”  This was when Saul heard the news (v. 5).   “And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.  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.  And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.  And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, 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.  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” (vs. 6-10).

“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 sacattered, so that two of them were not left together” (v. 11).

“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.  And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.  Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.  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” (vs. 12-15).