1 Samuel 11:7-9

Contemporary English Version

⁷ Saul killed two of his oxen, cut them up in pieces, and gave the pieces to the^[a] messengers. He told them to show the pieces to everyone in Israel and say, “Saul and Samuel are getting an army together. Come and join them. If you don't, this is what will happen to your oxen!”

The Lord made the people of Israel terribly afraid. So all the men came together ⁸ at Bezek. Saul had them organized and counted. There were 300,000 from Israel and 30,000^[b] from Judah.

⁹ Saul and his officers sent the messengers back to Jabesh with this promise: “We will rescue you tomorrow afternoon.” The messengers went back to the people at Jabesh and told them that they were going to be rescued.

Everyone was encouraged!