The First Book of Samuel (WEB)
13: 1Saul was forty years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over
Israel, 13:2Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in
Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of
Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 13:3Jonathan 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. 13:4All Israel heard say that Saul had struck
the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines.
The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal. 13:5The 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. 13:6When 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. 13:7Now 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. 13:8He
stayed seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel didn't come to
Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 13:9Saul said, Bring here the burnt offering to me,
and the peace-offerings. He offered the burnt offering. 13:10It 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 greet him. 13:11Samuel 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; 13:12therefore said I, Now will the
Philistines come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of Yahweh: I forced
myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering. 13:13Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly;
you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you: for now
would Yahweh have established your kingdom on Israel forever. 13:14But now your kingdom shall
not continue: Yahweh has sought him 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.
13:15Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people
who were present with him, about six hundred men. 13:16Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people
who were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in
Michmash. 13:17The 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; 13:18and 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. 13:19Now there was no smith found throughout all
the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 13:20but all
the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, mattock, ax, and
sickle; 13:21yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the plowshares, and for the forks, and for the
axes, and to set the goads. 13:22So 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 who were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul
and with Jonathan his son was there found. 13:23The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass
of Michmash.
World English Bible