Chapter 13
1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king , and he reigned over Israel forty-two years .
2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel , of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel , and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin . He sent the rest of the people to their own tents.
3 Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba , and the Philistines heard of it . Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear !"
4 All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines , and also that Israel was considered an abomination to the Philistines . The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal .
5 The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel : thirty thousand chariots , six thousand horsemen , and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude . They came up and encamped in Michmash , eastward of Beth Aven.
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble ( for the people were distressed ), then the people hid themselves in caves , in thickets , in rocks , in tombs, 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 He stayed seven days , according to the time set by Samuel ; but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal , and the people were scattering from him .
9 Saul said, " Bring the burnt offering to me here , and the peace offerings ." He offered the burnt offering .
10 It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering , behold , Samuel came ; and Saul went out to meet him , that he might greet him .
11 Samuel said, " What have you done ?" Saul said, " Because I saw that the people were scattered from me , and that you didn’t come within the days appointed , and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash ,
12 therefore I said, ‘ Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal , and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh .’ I forced myself therefore , and offered the burnt offering ."
13 Samuel said to Saul , " You have done foolishly . You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God , which he commanded you ; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever .
14 But now your kingdom will not continue . Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart , and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people , because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you ."
15 Samuel arose , and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin . Saul counted the people who were present with him , about six hundred men .
16 Saul , and Jonathan his son , and the people who were present with them , stayed in Geba of Benjamin ; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash .
17 The raiders 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 another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness .
19 Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel , for the Philistines said, " Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears ";
20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines , each man to sharpen his own plowshare , mattock , ax, and sickle.
21 The price was one payim each to sharpen mattocks , plowshares , pitchforks, axes , and goads .
22 So it came to pass in the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan ; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them .
23 The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash .