This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in 1 Samuel 11, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
A long, long time ago, a bad guy named Nahash and his army attacked a city called Jabesh-gilead. Nahash wanted to make a deal with the people of Jabesh-gilead. He said that he would let them live, but only if he could hurt them by poking out their right eyes. The people were very scared, so they asked Nahash for a week to think about it. They hoped that someone would help them before it was too late.
Meanwhile, a man named Saul was working in his field, plowing with his oxen. He heard people crying and asked them what was wrong. They told him about the people in Jabesh-gilead and how they needed help. The Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he got very angry. He knew he had to do something.
Saul cut up his oxen and sent pieces to every part of Israel. He told the people that if they didn’t come help him and the people of Jabesh-gilead, he would do the same thing to their animals. This scared the people, and they came to help Saul and the people of Jabesh-gilead. There were so many people that they filled up the whole city!
The next day, Saul and his army fought against Nahash and his army. They fought hard all morning, and by the time it got really hot outside, they had won! Nahash’s army was scattered and defeated.
After the battle, the people were so happy that they wanted to kill anyone who had ever said bad things about Saul. But Saul said that no one should be killed because God had saved them. They all went to a special place called Gilgal, and Saul was made king there. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Biblical Lessons
- God is always with us and can help us defeat our enemies.
- We should be willing to help others when they are in trouble, even if it’s hard.
- It is important to keep our promises and make peace with others.
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