1st Samuel 11:6

3 And the elders of Jabesh say to him, `Let us alone seven days, and we send messengers into all the border of Israel: and if there is none saving us -- then we have come out unto thee.`

4 And the messengers come to Gibeah of Saul, and speak the words in the ears of the people, and all the people lift up their voice and weep;

5 and lo, Saul hath come after the herd out of the field, and Saul saith, `What -- to the people, that they weep?` and they recount to him the words of the men of Jabesh.

6 And the Spirit of God doth prosper over Saul, in his hearing these words, and his anger burneth greatly,

7 and he taketh a couple of oxen, and cutteth them in pieces, and sendeth through all the border of Israel, by the hand of the messengers, saying, `He who is not coming out after Saul and after Samuel -- thus it is done to his oxen;` and the fear of Jehovah falleth on the people, and they come out as one man.

8 And he inspecteth them in Bezek, and the sons of Israel are three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they say to the messengers who are coming, `Thus do ye say to the men of Jabesh-Gilead: To-morrow ye have safety -- by the heat of the sun;` and the messengers come and declare to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoice;