Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

13 Saul 1reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in aMichmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with bJonathan in cGibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent.

3 And Jonathan attacked dthe garrison of the Philistines that was in eGeba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become 2an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.

5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, 3thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people fas the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of gBeth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hhid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the iland of Gad and Gilead.

As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 8 jThen he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might 4greet him.

11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?”

Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”

13 And Samuel said to Saul, k“You have done foolishly. lYou have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 mBut now your kingdom shall not continue. nThe Lord has sought for Himself a man oafter His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have pnot kept what the Lord commanded you.”

15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of 5Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, qabout six hundred men.