1 Saul Strikes Down the Philistines 13:1 The Heb is difficult; lit Saul was one year old when he began to reign. Now he reigned for two years over Israel Saul was 13:1 As in some mss of the LXX; M.T. omits thirty thirtyyears old when he began to reign, and he reigned 13:1 See Acts 13:21;M.T. omits forty forty-two years over Israel.
2 And Saul chose for himself3,000men of Israel, of which2,000were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while1,000were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.
3 And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard ofit. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”
4 Then all Israel heard 13:4Lit saying the news that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned 13:4Lit after to Saul at Gilgal.
5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel,30,000chariots and6,000horsemen and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
6 Now the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed). Then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.
7 Alsosome ofthe Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, hewasstill in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.Saul Doesn’t Keep Yahweh’s Commandment
8 So he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
9 So Saul said, “Bring near to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.
10 And as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet himandto 13:10 Lit bless greet him.
11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you, for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom 13:13Lit to over Israel forever.
14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. Yahweh has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.”
15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul 13:15Lit mustered numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
16 Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines camped at Michmash.
17 And the 13:17Lit destroyers raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three 13:17Lit heads companies: one 13:17Lit head company turned 13:17Lit toward the direction of toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual,
18 and another 13:18Lit head company turned to the way of Beth-horon, and another 13:18Lit head company turned to the way of the border which overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19 Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make 13:19Lit sword or spear swords or spears.”
20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his 13:20Heb plowshares goad.
21 And the charge was 13:21Heb pim two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the goad.
22 So it happened on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people whowerewith Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan.
23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.