Home› Bible› 1 Samuel› Chapter 11

1 Samuel 11

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 11 of 31

1 And Nahash the Ammonite went up and camped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Cut a covenant for us, and we will serve you.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, With this I will cut a covenant for you, when is dug out for you every right eye; and I will make it a reproach on all Israel.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, Slack off from us seven days, and we will send messengers in all the boundary of Israel. And if there is no deliverer for us, then we will come out to you.

Read full chapter in the Bible Reader

Chapter Summary

Nahash offers the people of Jabesh-gilead a covenant as exchange for their eyes. They send messengers and are delivered by Saul. Saul is then confirmed and his kingdom renewed.

Key Hebrew Words

בְּרִית covenant H1285 · TWOT 282a
חֶרְפָּה reproach H2781 · TWOT 749a
תְּשׁוּעָה deliverance H8668 · TWOT 929e
יָשַׁע deliver, save H3467 · TWOT 929
מָלַךְ reign as king H4427 · TWOT 1200
חָדַשׁ renew H2318 · TWOT 613

People & Context

Saul

The Spirit of God comes on him; he musters Israel, routs the Ammonites, and delivers Jabesh-gilead

Nahash

The Ammonite who besieges Jabesh-gilead and demands the right eye of every man as a reproach on Israel

Samuel

Summons the people to Gilgal to renew the kingdom and confirm Saul as king before Jehovah

Timeline

Nahash Besieges Jabesh-gilead

Nahash the Ammonite camps against Jabesh-gilead and demands the right eyes of its men as a cruel condition for a covenant.

1 Samuel 11:1-4
Saul Rallies Israel

Upon hearing of Jabesh's plight, the Spirit of God powerfully comes upon Saul; he cuts a team of oxen into pieces and sends them throughout Israel to summon an army.

1 Samuel 11:5-8
Defeat of the Ammonites

Saul marches with 330,000 men, divides them into three groups, and utterly devastates the Ammonite forces during the morning watch.

1 Samuel 11:9-11

Read 1 Samuel 11 in the KJ3 Reader

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

Open in Bible Reader
1 Samuel 101 Samuel1 Samuel 12