Et factum est quasi post mensem, ascendit Naas Ammonites, et pugnare cœpit adversum Jabes Galaad. Dixeruntque omnes viri Jabes ad Naas: Habeto nos fœderatos, et serviemus tibi.

It was a month later that Naas the Ammonite offered battle, and laid siege to Jabes-Galaad; whereupon the men of Jabes would have made a treaty with him, and become his subjects.

And it came to pass about a month after this that Naas, the Ammonite came up, and began to fight against Jabes Galaad. And all the men of Jabes said to Naas: Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

Et respondit ad eos Naas Ammonites: In hoc feriam vobiscum fœdus, ut eruam omnium vestrum oculos dextros, ponamque vos opprobrium in universo Israël.

But his terms were, that he should put out the right eye of each citizen, to the shame of all Israel.

And Naas the Ammonite answered them: On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and make you a reproach in all Israel.

Et dixerunt ad eum seniores Jabes: Concede nobis septem dies, ut mittamus nuntios ad universos terminos Israël, et si non fuerit qui defendat nos, egrediemur ad te.

So the elders of Jabes asked for a truce of seven days, while they sent messengers out to every part of Israel; if none came forward to help them, they would open the gates to him.

And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven days, that we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel: and if there be no one to defend us, we will come out to thee.

Venerunt ergo nuntii in Gabaa Saulis: et locuti sunt verba hæc, audiente populo: et levavit omnis populus vocem suam, et flevit.

When these messengers came to Gabaa, where Saul lived, and told the people their errand, the whole city made loud lament.

The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and they spoke these words in the hearing of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

Et ecce Saul veniebat, sequens boves de agro, et ait: Quid habet populus quod plorat? Et narraverunt ei verba virorum Jabes.

And just then Saul came in from the country, driving his team of oxen; What ails the people, he asked, that they should weep? And he was told of the message from Jabes.

And behold Saul came, following oxen out of the field, and he said: What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabes.

Et insilivit spiritus Domini in Saul cum audisset verba hæc, et iratus est furor ejus nimis.

When he heard it, the spirit of the Lord fell upon him, and his heart burned with rage;

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard these words, and his anger was exceedingly kindled.

Et assumens utrumque bovem, concidit in frustra, misitque in omnes terminos Israël per manum nuntiorum, dicens: Quicumque non exierit, et secutus fuerit Saul et Samuel, sic fiet bobus ejus. Invasit ergo timor Domini populum, et egressi sunt quasi vir unus.

there and then he took both the oxen, and cut them into small pieces, which he sent round by messenger to every part of Israel; The man who does not rally, said he, to the cause of Saul and Samuel, will have his oxen treated like these. And the Lord put the whole people in such dread of him, that they answered his summons to a man;

And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and sent them into all the coasts of Israel by messengers, saying: Whosoever shall not come forth, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out as one man.

Et recensuit eos in Bezech: fueruntque filiorum Israël trecenta millia, virorum autem Juda triginta millia.

when he called the roll at Bezech, Israel had sent three hundred thousand, and there were thirty thousand besides from Juda.

And he numbered them in Bezec: and there were of the children of Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Juda thirty thousand.

Et dixerunt nuntiis qui venerant: Sic dicetis viris qui sunt in Jabes Galaad: Cras erit vobis salus, cum incaluerit sol. Venerunt ergo nuntii, et annuntiaverunt viris Jabes: qui lætati sunt.

Back went the messengers, carrying word to Jabes-Galaad that relief would come next day, with the heat of the sun. So the men of Jabes, overjoyed at the news the messengers brought,

And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall you say to the men of Jabes Galaad: To morrow, when the sun shall be hot, you shall have relief. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of Jabes: and they were glad.

Et dixerunt: Mane exibimus ad vos: et facietis nobis omne quod placuerit vobis.

told Naas that they would open the gates on the morrow, and he should have them at his mercy.

And they said: In the morning we will come out to you: and you shall do what you please with us.

Et factum est, cum dies crastinus venisset, constituit Saul populum in tres partes: et ingressus est media castra in vigilia matutina, et percussit Ammon usque dum incalesceret dies: reliqui autem dispersi sunt, ita ut non relinquerentur in eis duo pariter.

That next day, at the morning watch, Saul divided his army into three, and made his way into the heart of the Ammonite camp at the time of the morning watch. All morning, till the sun gained its heat, he smote the Ammonites down; and those who survived were so scattered that never a pair escaped together.

And it came to pass, when the morrow was come that Saul put the people in three companies: and he came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and he slew the Ammonites until the day grew hot, and the rest were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

Et ait populus ad Samuelem: Quis est iste qui dixit: Saul num regnabit super nos? Date viros, et interficiemus eos.

After this, the people cried out to Samuel, Where are the men who protested they would not have Saul for their king? Bring them out, and let us slay them.

And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said: Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men and we will kill them.

Et ait Saul: Non occidetur quisquam in die hac, quia hodie fecit Dominus salutem in Israël.

But Saul answered, Nay, the Lord has given Israel a great victory; there shall be no slaughter this day.

And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day, because the Lord this day hath wrought salvation in Israel:

Dixit autem Samuel ad populum: Venite, et eamus in Galgala, et innovemus ibi regnum.

And now Samuel called on the people to come with him to Galgala, and renew the covenant of the kingship there;

And Samuel said to the people: Come and let us go to Galgal, and let us renew the kingdom there.

Et perrexit omnis populus in Galgala, et fecerunt ibi regem Saul coram Domino in Galgala, et immolaverunt ibi victimas pacificas coram Domino. Et lætatus est ibi Saul, et cuncti viri Israël nimis.

so all went to Galgala, and there, at Galgala, took Saul for their king in the Lord’s presence, which they honoured with welcome-offerings. A glad man was Saul that day, and not a heart in Israel but rejoiced with him.

And all the people went to Galgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Galgal, and they sacrificed there victims of peace before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly.