1 Samuel 13

1Saul was one year old when he became king, and he reigned two years over Israel.

2Saul chose three thousand men from Israel for himself; two thousand were with him in Michmash and on Mount Bethel, one thousand with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin, and he sent the rest of the people, every man to his tent.

3Jonathan struck the Philistine garrison in Geba, and the Philistines heard. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

4All Israel heard that Saul had struck the Philistine garrison, and also that Israel had become odious among the Philistines, so the people rallied behind Saul to Gilgal.

5The Philistines gathered to fight against Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people numerous as the sand on the seashore. They advanced and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6When men of Israel saw that they were in distress—for the people were hard pressed—the people hid themselves in caves, thickets, rocks, crags, and pits.

7Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8He waited seven days until the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people scattered from him.

9Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering and the peace offerings to me." He offered the burnt offering.

10It happened as he finished offering up the burnt offering—behold, Samuel came—and Saul went out to meet him to bless him.

11Samuel said, "What did you do?" Saul said, "Because I saw the people breaking away from me, and you did not come to the appointed time of the days, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash."

12I said, “Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I have not sought Yahweh's face.” So I compelled myself and offered the burnt offering.

13Samuel said to Saul, "You have played the fool; you did not observe the charge of Yahweh your God, which he laid on you, for now Yahweh would have secured your kingdom over Israel forever."

14But now your kingdom will not endure. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him ruler over his people, because you did not keep what Yahweh commanded you.

15Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin, and Saul mustered the people who were with him, about six hundred men.

16Saul and Jonathan his son, with the people there beside them, remained in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17Raiders went out from the Philistine camp in three companies: one company turned toward the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual.

18One band turned toward Beth Horon, and one band turned toward the border overlooking the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19No smith was found anywhere in the entire land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears."

20All Israel went down to the Philistines to sharpen each man's plowshare, his coulter, his axe, and his mattock.

21Yet there was a file for the mattocks and plowshares, for the three-tined fork, for the axes, and to straighten the goad.

22On the day of battle no sword or spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but sword and spear were found with Saul and with Jonathan his son.

23The Philistine garrison went out to the Michmash crossing.