Saul and Jabesh-Gilead

In chapter ten of First Samuel Saul was anointed as king of Israel but his actual reign began in response to a crisis which occurred in the next chapter.

Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”

But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.”