13 Saul was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled Israel as king for 42 years. [ a ] 2 He chose 3,000 men from Israel's army to be with him. 2,000 of those men stayed with him at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel. Then 1,000 men were with his son Jonathan at Gibeah, in the land of Benjamin's tribe. Saul sent all the other men of the army back to their homes.
3 Some Philistine soldiers had a camp at Geba. Jonathan attacked them there and all the Philistines heard about it. Saul sent a message through all Israel to warn people of the danger. He said, ‘Listen, all you Hebrew people!’ [ b ] 4 Everyone in Israel heard this message: ‘Saul has attacked the Philistines' camp. Now the Philistines hate the Israelites even more than they did before.’ So all the soldiers in Israel came to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines' army came together to fight against the Israelites. The Philistines had 3,000 chariots. They had 6,000 soldiers who rode on horses. Their whole army had more soldiers than the sand on the shore of the sea! The Philistine army went to make their camp at Michmash, which was east of Beth Aven. 6 The Israelites realized that they would be in big trouble if the Philistines attacked them. Some of them went and hid in caves or among the bushes. Others hid among the rocks, in holes in the ground or in wells. 7 Some of the Israelite soldiers crossed the Jordan River. They escaped to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul himself stayed at Gilgal. All the soldiers that were still with him were shaking with fear. 8 Samuel had told Saul that he must wait for him to come to Gilgal. Saul waited for seven days as Samuel had said. But Samuel still had not arrived. Saul's army began to leave him.
9 So Saul said, ‘Bring the burnt offering and the peace offerings to me.’ Then Saul offered the burnt offering to God. 10 Just as he finished doing that, Samuel arrived. Saul went to meet Samuel and to say ‘hello’.
11 Samuel asked Saul, ‘What have you done?’
Saul replied, ‘The soldiers were starting to leave me. You had not arrived here at the time that you said you would come. I could see that the Philistine soldiers were preparing for battle at Michmash. 12 I thought that they would come to attack me at Gilgal. I thought, “Before they do that, I must ask the Lord to help us in the fight.” Because of that, I had to offer the burnt offering to him.’
13 Samuel said, ‘You have done a foolish thing. You have not obeyed the command of the Lord your God. If you had obeyed the Lord , he would have let you and your family rule Israel for ever. 14 But because of what you have done, your kingdom will not continue. Instead, the Lord will find a man who pleases him. The Lord has decided that this man will become the leader of his people, instead of you. He will do that because you have not obeyed his command.’
15 After that, Samuel left Gilgal. He went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin's tribe. Saul counted the soldiers who were still with him. There were about 600 men.
16 Saul and his son Jonathan were staying in Geba, in the land of Benjamin's tribe. They had their soldiers with them there.
The Philistines had their camp at Michmash. 17 The Philistines sent out three small groups of soldiers to attack towns in Israel. One group went towards Ophrah in the land of Shual. 18 The second group went towards Beth Horon. The third group went to Israel's border where they could see across Zeboim Valley towards the wilderness.
19 At that time, there were no people in Israel who could use iron to make things. The Philistines had said, ‘We must not let the Hebrew people make swords and spears.’ 20 So the Israelites had to ask the Philistines to mend their ploughs, axes, hoes and knives that they used on their farms. 21 The Israelites had to pay eight grams of silver for the Philistines to make each plough or hoe sharp again. They paid four grams of silver for each axe, knife or ox-goad. [ c ]
22 So when the fight started, the soldiers that were with Saul and Jonathan did not have any swords or spears. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
23 A group of Philistine soldiers went to the narrow road across the hills at Michmash.
13 Saul was 30 [ a ] years old when he became king. He ruled over Israel 42 years. [ b ] 2 Saul chose 3000 men from Israel. There were 2000 men who stayed with him at Micmash in the hill country of Bethel. There were 1000 men who stayed with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul sent the other men in the army back home.
3 Jonathan defeated the Philistines at their camp in Geba. The Philistines heard about this. They said, “The Hebrews have rebelled.” [ c ]
Saul said, “Let the Hebrew people hear what happened.” So Saul told the men to blow trumpets through all the land of Israel. 4 All the Israelites heard this news: “Saul has killed the Philistine leader. Now the Philistines will really hate the Israelites!”
The Israelites were called to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines gathered to fight Israel. The Philistines camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. They had 3000 [ d ] chariots and 6000 horse soldiers. There were so many Philistines that they were like sand on the seashore.
6 The Israelites saw that they were in trouble. They felt trapped. They ran away to hide in caves and cracks in the rock. They hid among the rocks, in wells, and in other holes in the ground. 7 Some Hebrews even went across the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal. All the men in his army were shaking with fear.
8 Samuel said he would meet Saul at Gilgal. Saul waited there seven days. But Samuel had not yet come to Gilgal, and the soldiers began to leave Saul. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings.” Then Saul offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as Saul finished offering that sacrifice, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him.
11 Samuel asked, “What have you done?”
Saul answered, “I saw the soldiers leaving me. You were not here on time, and the Philistines were gathering at Micmash. 12 I thought to myself, ‘The Philistines will come here and attack me at Gilgal, and I haven’t asked the Lord to help us yet.’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”
13 Samuel said, “You did a foolish thing. You did not obey the Lord your God. If you had done what he commanded, the Lord would have let your family rule Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom won’t continue. The Lord was looking for a man who wants to obey him. [ e ] He has found that man—and the Lord has chosen him to be the new leader of his people, because you didn’t obey his command.” 15 Then Samuel got up and left Gilgal.
Saul and the rest of his army left Gilgal [ f ] and went to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted the men who were still with him. There were about 600. 16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the soldiers went to Geba in Benjamin.
The Philistines were camped at Micmash. 17 So their best soldiers began the attack. The Philistine army split into three groups. One group went north on the road to Ophrah, near Shual. 18 The second group went southeast on the road to Beth Horon, and the third group went east on the road to the border. That road looks over the Valley of Zeboim toward the desert.
19 There were no blacksmiths in Israel. The Philistines would not allow them because they were afraid the Israelites would make iron swords and spears. 20 Only the Philistines could sharpen iron tools. So if the Israelites needed to sharpen their plows, hoes, axes, or sickles, they had to go to the Philistines. 21 The Philistine blacksmiths charged 1/3 ounce [ g ] of silver for sharpening plows and hoes and 1/6 ounce [ h ] of silver for sharpening picks, axes, and the iron tip on ox goads. 22 So on the day of battle, none of the Israelite soldiers with Saul had iron swords or spears. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had such weapons.
23 A group of Philistine soldiers guarded the mountain pass at Micmash.
13 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord : I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.
16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
18 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
13 Saul was [ a ] thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for [ b ] forty- two years over Israel.
2 Now Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of whom two thousand were with Saul in ( A ) Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while a thousand were with Jonathan at ( B ) Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent the rest of the people away, each to his tent. 3 And Jonathan attacked ( C ) the garrison of the Philistines that was in ( D ) Geba, and the Philistines heard about it . Then Saul ( E ) blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 And all Israel heard [ c ] the news that Saul had attacked the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel ( F ) had become repulsive to the Philistines. Then the people were summoned [ d ] to Saul at Gilgal.
5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and ( G ) people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of ( H ) Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard-pressed), then ( I ) the people kept themselves hidden in caves, in crevices, in cliffs, in crypts, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of ( J ) Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him, trembling.
8 Now ( K ) he waited for seven days, until the appointed time that Samuel had set , but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And ( L ) he offered the burnt offering. 10 But as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and ( M ) Saul went out to meet him and to [ e ] greet him. 11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come at the appointed [ f ] time, and that ( N ) the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 I [ g ] thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not [ h ] asked the favor of the Lord .’ So I worked up the courage and offered the burnt offering.” 13 But Samuel said to Saul, “ ( O ) You have acted foolishly! ( P ) You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for the Lord would now have established your kingdom [ i ] over Israel ( Q ) forever. 14 But ( R ) now your kingdom shall not endure. ( S ) The Lord has sought for Himself a man [ j ] after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
15 Then Samuel set out and went up from Gilgal to ( T ) Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul [ k ] counted the people who were [ l ] present with him, ( U ) about six hundred men. 16 Now Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people who were [ m ] present with them were staying in ( V ) Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17 Then ( W ) [ n ] raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three [ o ] companies: one [ p ] company turned [ q ] toward ( X ) Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 and another [ r ] company turned [ s ] toward ( Y ) Beth-horon, and another [ t ] company turned [ u ] toward the border that overlooks the Valley of ( Z ) Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19 Now ( AA ) no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make [ v ] ( AB ) swords or spears.” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe. 21 The charge was [ w ] two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the [ x ] cattle goads. 22 So it came about on the day of battle that ( AC ) neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan. 23 And ( AD ) the garrison of the Philistines went out to ( AE ) the gorge of Michmash.
13 Saul was thirty [ a ] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- [ b ] two years.
2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand ( A ) were with him at Mikmash ( B ) and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah ( C ) in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost ( D ) at Geba, ( E ) and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet ( F ) blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious ( G ) to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines assembled ( H ) to fight Israel, with three thousand [ c ] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand ( I ) on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, ( J ) east of Beth Aven. ( K ) 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid ( L ) in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. ( M ) 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad ( N ) and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking ( O ) with fear. 8 He waited seven ( P ) days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered ( Q ) up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel ( R ) arrived, and Saul went out to greet ( S ) him.
11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel.
Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, ( T ) 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, ( U ) and I have not sought the Lord ’s favor. ( V ) ’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
13 “You have done a foolish thing, ( W ) ” Samuel said. “You have not kept ( X ) the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. ( Y ) 14 But now your kingdom ( Z ) will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart ( AA ) and appointed ( AB ) him ruler ( AC ) of his people, because you have not kept ( AD ) the Lord ’s command.”
15 Then Samuel left Gilgal [ d ] and went up to Gibeah ( AE ) in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred. ( AF )
16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah [ e ] ( AG ) in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17 Raiding ( AH ) parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah ( AI ) in the vicinity of Shual, 18 another toward Beth Horon, ( AJ ) and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim ( AK ) facing the wilderness.
19 Not a blacksmith ( AL ) could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears! ( AM ) ” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles [ f ] sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel [ g ] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel [ h ] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan ( AN ) had a sword or spear ( AO ) in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass ( AP ) at Mikmash. ( AQ )
