1Sam 13
1
Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; 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 the mount of Beth-el, 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 the garrison of the Philistines, and
also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were
gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
5
And the Philistines assembled 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 encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.
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
coverts, and in pits.
7
Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but
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 here the burnt-offering to me, and the 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 have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people
were scattered from me, and that you came not within the days appointed, and that
the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;
12
therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have
not entreated the favor of YHWH: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering.
13
And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment
of YHWH your God, which he commanded you: for now would YHWH have established your
kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14
But now your kingdom shall not continue: YHWH has sought him a man after his own heart,
and YHWH has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept
that which YHWH commanded you.
15
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal to 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 Geba 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 to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
18
and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way
of the border that looks down upon 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 set 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 pass of Michmash.