< 1 Samuel 11 >

1 Nun zog der Ammoniter Nachas herauf und belagerte Jabes in Gilead. Da sprachen alle Männer von Jabes zu Nachas: "Schließ mit uns einen Vergleich! Dann unterwerfen wir uns dir."
About a month later, King Nahash of Ammon [led his army across the Jordan River, and they] surrounded Jabesh [city] in [the] Gilead [region]. But all the men of Jabesh [went and] said to Nahash, “Make an agreement/treaty with us [not to kill us], and then we will let you rule us.”
2 Da sprach der Ammoniter Nachas zu ihnen: "Ich schließe mit euch einen Vergleich, daß ich euch allen das rechte Auge aussteche und damit ganz Israel einen Schimpf antue."
Nahash replied, “I will do that if you do one thing. Allow us to gouge out all the right eyes of your people. By doing that we will cause the people [in other countries] to despise all you Israeli people.”
3 Da sprachen die Ältesten von Jabes zu ihm: "Laß uns sieben Tage Zeit! Wir wollen Boten durch das ganze Gebiet Israels senden. Hilft uns niemand, dann ergeben wir uns dir."
The leaders of Jabesh replied, “Do not attack us for the next seven days. During that time, we will send messengers throughout Israel [to tell them what you are demanding]. If no one will help us, then we will (surrender to you/allow you to do to us whatever you want).”
4 So kamen die Boten auch nach dem Gibea Sauls und meldeten dem Volk die Lage. Da brach das ganze Volk in lautes Weinen aus.
[Being very confident that his army was very superior, Nahash agreed. So the leaders of Jabesh sent messengers throughout Israel]. When the messengers came to Gibeah, which was [the city] where Saul lived, and they told the people there about the situation, everyone started to cry.
5 Eben kam Saul hinter den Rindern vom Felde heim. Da fragte Saul: "Was ist dem Volk, daß es weint?" Nun berichteten sie ihm die Lage der Männer von Jabes.
At that time, Saul was plowing in the field. When he returned home, he asked, “Why are all the people [crying]?” So they told him what the messengers from Jabesh had reported.
6 Da kam Gottes Geist über Saul, als er diese Dinge vernahm, und sein Zorn erglühte heftig.
Then God’s Spirit came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry [because of what Nahash wanted to do].
7 Dann nahm er ein paar Rinder, zerstückelte sie und sandte sie in Gesamtisrael durch die Boten umher mit dem Aufrufe: "Wer nicht mit auszieht hinter Saul und Samuel her, dessen Nachwuchs soll es ebenso ergehen!" Da befiel das Volk ein Herrnschrecken, und sie zogen aus wie ein Mann.
He took two of his oxen [and killed them] and cut them into pieces. Then he sent messengers [carrying those pieces] throughout Israel to tell people this message: “Saul says that [he cut this ox in pieces, and that he] will do the same thing to the oxen of anyone who refuses to come with him and Samuel to fight [the army from Ammon]!” Then Yahweh caused all the people of Israel to be afraid of what Saul might do to them (OR, of what Yahweh might do to them) [if they did not go and help Saul]. So the men all gathered together.
8 Er musterte sie nun zu Bezek. Da waren es 300.000 Israeliten und 30.000 Judäer.
When Saul gave them all weapons at Bezek, he saw that there were 300,000 Israeli men there, as well as 30,000 men from the tribe of Judah.
9 Da sagten sie zu den Boten, die gekommen waren: "So sollt ihr zu den Männern von Jabes in Gilead sagen: 'Morgen wird euch Hilfe, wenn die Sonne brennt.'" Da gingen die Boten heim und meldeten es den Männern von Jabes. Da wurden diese froh.
So Saul sent messengers back to the people at Jabesh to tell them, “We will rescue/save you by noontime tomorrow.” When the people of Jabesh heard that message, they were very joyful/happy.
10 Und die Männer von Jabes sprachen: "Morgen übergeben wir uns euch. Dann tut mit uns, wie euch gefällt!"
Then the men of Jabesh told [Nahash], “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and then you can do to us whatever you want to.”
11 Am anderen Morgen nun teilte Saul das Volk in drei Haufen. Und sie drangen in das Lager um die Morgenwache und schlugen Ammon, bis der Tag heiß ward. Was übrigblieb, zerstreute sich; nicht zwei davon blieben beisammen.
But before the sun rose the next morning, Saul [and his army arrived. He] divided them into three groups. They rushed into the camp of the soldiers from Ammon, and attacked them. By noontime they had killed most of them, and those who were not killed scattered. Each of them who ran away ran away alone.
12 Da sprach das Volk zu Samuel: "Wer sind die, die gesagt haben: 'Saul soll nicht König über uns werden?' Schafft die Männer her, daß wir sie totschlagen!"
Then the people [of Jabesh] said to Samuel, “Where are those men who said that they did not want Saul to be our king? Bring them here, and we will kill them!”
13 Da sprach Saul: "An diesem Tage soll niemand den Tod erleiden! Denn heute hat der Herr Israel zum Siege verholfen."
But Saul replied, “[No], we are not going to execute anyone today, because this is the day that Yahweh has saved us Israeli people. [It is a day to rejoice, not to kill anyone].”
14 Da sprach Samuel zum Volke. "Kommt! Laßt uns nach dem Gilgal ziehen und dort dem Königtum die Weihe geben!"
Then Samuel said to the people, “Let’s all go to Gilgal, and there we will again proclaim [that Saul is] our king.”
15 So zog das ganze Volk nach dem Gilgal. Und sie machten dort Saul vor dem Herrn im Gilgal zum König. Dann schlachteten sie dort Mahlopfer vor dem Herrn. Und Saul und alle anderen Männer Israels waren dort überaus froh.
So they went to Gilgal. There, knowing that Yahweh was watching, they proclaimed that Saul was their king. Then they offered sacrifices to enable them to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. And Saul and all the other Israeli people were very happy.

< 1 Samuel 11 >