10. The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us whatever you wish.”
11. But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
12. Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said, ‘Why should Saul rule over us?’ Bring them here, and we will kill them!”
13. But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the lord has rescued Israel!”
14. Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom.”
15. So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the lord they made Saul king. Then they offered peace offerings to the lord, and Saul and all the Israelites were filled with joy.