Saul was 1thirty years
old
when he began to reign
, and he reigned
2forty two
years
over
Israel
.
Now Saul chose
for himself 3,000
men of Israel
, of which 2,000
were with Saul
in aMichmash
and in the hill
country
of Bethel
, while 1,000
were with Jonathan
at bGibeah
of Benjamin
. But he sent
away
the rest
of the people
, each
to his tent
.
Jonathan smote
athe garrison
of the Philistines
that was in bGeba
, and the Philistines
heard
of it. Then Saul
cblew
the trumpet
throughout
the land
, saying
, "Let the Hebrews
hear
."
All Israel
heard
1the news
that Saul
had smitten
the garrison
of the Philistines
, and also
that Israel
ahad become
odious
to the Philistines
. The people
were then summoned
2to Saul
at Gilgal
.
Now the Philistines assembled
to fight
with Israel
, 30,000
chariots
and 6,000
horsemen
, and apeople
like the sand
which
is on the seashore
in abundance
; and they came
up and camped
in Michmash
, east
of bBeth-aven
.
When the men of Israel
saw
that they were in a strait
(for the people
were hard-pressed
), then athe people
hid
themselves in caves
, in thickets
, in cliffs
, in cellars
, and in pits
.
Also some of the Hebrews crossed
the Jordan
into the land
of aGad
and Gilead
. But as for Saul
, he was still
in Gilgal
, and all
the people
followed
him trembling
.
Now ahe 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.
So Saul said
, "Bring
to me the burnt
offering
and the peace
offerings
." And ahe offered
the burnt
offering
.
As soon as he finished offering
the burnt
offering
, behold
, Samuel
came
; and aSaul
went
out to meet
him and to 1greet
him.
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 athe Philistines
were assembling
at Michmash
,
therefore I said, `Now
the Philistines
will come
down
against
me at Gilgal
, and I have not asked
the favor
of the LORD
.' So I forced
myself and offered
the burnt
offering
."
Samuel said
to Saul
, " aYou have acted
foolishly
; byou have not kept
the commandment
of the LORD
your God
, which
He commanded
you, for now
the LORD
would have established
your kingdom
1over
Israel
cforever
.
"But anow your kingdom
shall not endure
. bThe LORD
has sought
out for Himself a man
after His own heart
, and the LORD
has appointed
him as ruler
over
His people
, because
you have not kept
what
the LORD
commanded
you."
Then Samuel arose
and went
up from Gilgal
to aGibeah
of Benjamin
. And Saul
1numbered
the people
who were present
with him, babout six
hundred
men
.
Now Saul and his son
Jonathan
and the people
who were present
with them were staying
in aGeba
of Benjamin
while the Philistines
camped
at Michmash
.
And athe 1raiders came
from the camp
of the Philistines
in three
2companies
: one
3company
turned
4toward
bOphrah
, to the land
of Shual
,
and another 1company
turned
2toward
aBeth-horon
, and another
1company
turned
2toward
the border
which overlooks
the valley
of bZeboim
toward the wilderness
.
Now ano blacksmith
could be found
in all
the land
of Israel
, for the Philistines
said
, "Otherwise
the Hebrews
will make
1 bswords
or
spears
."
So all Israel
went
down
to the Philistines
, each
to sharpen
his plowshare
, his mattock
, his axe
, and his hoe
.
The charge was 1two-thirds
of a shekel for the plowshares
, the mattocks
, the forks
, and the axes
, and to fix
the hoes
.
So it came about on the day
of battle
that aneither
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
.
And athe garrison of the Philistines
went
out to bthe pass
of Michmash
.