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