5 The Philistines assembledi to fight Israel, with three thousandc chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sandj on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash,k east of Beth Aven.l 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hidm in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.n 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gado and Gilead.

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quakingp with fear. 8 He waited sevenq days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offeredr up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuels arrived, and Saul went out to greett him.

11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash,u 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal,v and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.w’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

13 “You have done a foolish thing,x” Samuel said. “You have not kepty the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.z 14 But now your kingdoma will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heartb and appointedc him rulerd of his people, because you have not kepte the Lord’s command.”