1 Samuel 13

Saul’s Failure

13Saul was 30 years ^uold when he became king, and he reigned 42 years ^vover Israel. ^w2He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself: 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash ^xand in Bethel’s hill country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah ^yof Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.

³Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison ^zathat was in Geba, ^band the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land ^csaying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” ^de4And all Israel heard the news, “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, ^fand Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

⁵The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000 ^gchariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. ^hThey went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. ^ij

⁶The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns. ^k7Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. ⁸He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, ^lbut Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. ⁹So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering.

¹⁰Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, ¹¹and Samuel asked, “What have you done?”

Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, ¹²I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. ^mYou have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you. ⁿIt was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel, ^o14but now your reign will not endure. ^pThe Lord has found a man loyal to Him, ^qrand the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.” ¹⁵Then Samuel went ^sfrom Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about 600 men.

¹⁶Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba ^tof Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. ¹⁷Raiding parties ^uwent out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah ^vroad leading to the land of Shual. ¹⁸The next division headed toward the Beth-horon ^wroad, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Valley of Zeboim ^xtoward the wilderness.

¹⁹No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, ^ybecause the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” ²⁰So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles. ^z21The price was two-thirds of a shekel ^afor plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on an oxgoad. ²²So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul ^band Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

²³Now a Philistine garrison ^ctook control of the pass at Michmash.