< 撒母耳記上 11 >

1 大約過了一個月,阿孟人納哈士上來圍困基肋阿得的雅貝士,雅貝士所有的居民對納哈士說:「你與我們立約,我們就服事你。」
Then came up Nachash the 'Ammonite, and encamped against Yabesh-gil'ad: and all the men of Yabesh said unto Nachash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
2 阿孟人納哈士回答他們說:「在這條件下,我纔與你們立約:就是剜出你們各人的右眼,我要藉此羞辱全以色列。」
And Nachash the 'Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that ye all have put out the right eye, that I may lay it as a reproach upon all Israel.
3 雅貝士的長老回答他說:「請讓我們休戰七天,我們派人到以色列全境去,如果沒有人來救我們,我們就向你投降。
And the elders of Yabesh said unto him, Grant us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers throughout all the boundary of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, will we come out to thee.
4 使者到了撒烏耳的基貝亞,就把這事講給民眾聽,民眾遂放聲大哭。
And the messengers came to Gib'ah of Saul, and spoke the words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5 那時撒烏耳正跟著牛從田間回來,便問說:「民眾有什麼事,如此號淘大哭﹖」人們就把雅貝士人的話講給他聽。
And, behold, Saul was coming after the herds out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Yabesh.
6 撒烏耳一聽說這些話,上主的神便降在他身上,遂勃然大怒,
And the spirit of God came suddenly over Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was kindled greatly,
7 立即牽了一對牛來,剖分成塊,託使者分送到以色列全境說:「凡不隨從撒烏耳如撒慕爾出征的,也必這樣對待他的牛! 」上主的驚嚇降在民眾身上,因而他們好像一個人一齊出征。
And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them about throughout all the boundary of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, Whosoever goeth not forth after Saul and after Samuel, shall have his herds thus treated. And the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out as one man.
8 撒烏耳在貝則克檢閱了他們;以色列人共三十萬,猶大人三萬。
And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
9 撒烏耳對來的使者說:「你們這樣對基肋阿得的雅貝士人說:明天太陽正熱時,救援就必達到你們那裏。」使者便回去,向雅貝士人報告,他們都很喜歡。
And they said unto the messengers that were come, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Yabesh-gil'ad, Tomorrow shall ye have help, when the sun shineth hot. And the messengers came and told it to the men of Yabesh; and these were glad.
10 雅貝士人遂對阿孟人說:「明天我們向你們投降,你們看著怎樣好,就怎樣對待我們罷!
And the men of Yabesh said, Tomorrow will we go out unto you, and ye can do unto us in accordance with all that seemeth good in your eyes.
11 第二天撒烏耳把民眾分作三隊,在黎明以前衝入了阿孟人營中,擊殺他們一直到日中最熱的時候;剩下的人都逃散了,以至沒有兩人在一起。
And it happened on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and they smote the 'Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that those that remained were scattered, and no two among them were left together.
12 民眾於是對撒慕爾說:「誰曾說過:撒烏耳豈能作我們的君王﹖把這些人交出來,讓我們處死他們! 」
And the people said unto Samuel, Who is there that saith, Shall Saul reign over us? give up the men, and we will put them to death.
13 撒烏耳回答說:「今天不可處死任何人,因為今天上主在以色列中施行了救恩。」
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death on this day; for today the Lord hath wrought deliverance in Israel.
14 撒慕爾以後對民眾說:「來,我們到基耳加耳去,在那裏重新建立王國。」
And Samuel said to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, and renew there the choice of the king.
15 民眾便都去了基耳加耳,在那裏於上主面前立撒烏耳為王,並給上主奉獻了和平祭;撒烏耳同全體以色列人舉行了盛大的盛會。
And all the people went to Gilgal; and they appointed there Saul as king before the Lord in Gilgal; and they sacrificed there sacrifices of peace-offerings before the Lord; and Saul with all the men of Israel rejoiced there very greatly.

< 撒母耳記上 11 >