1 Samuel - 13

1 - Saul - reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel - ,

2 - Saul - chose him three thousand men of Israel - ; whereof two thousand were with Saul - in Michmash and in mount Bethel - , and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin - : and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

3 - And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul - blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

4 - And all Israel - heard say that Saul - had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel - also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul - to Gilgal.

5 - And the Philistines gathered 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 pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6 - When 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 high places, and in pits.

7 - And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan - to the land of Gad - and Gilead - . As for Saul - , he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 - And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel - had appointed: but Samuel - came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

9 - And Saul - said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 - And it 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 salute him.

11 - And Samuel - said, What hast thou done? And Saul - said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 - Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 - And Samuel - said to Saul - , Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel - for ever.

14 - But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

15 - And Samuel - arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin - . And Saul - numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 - And Saul - , and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin - : but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17 - And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:

18 - And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 - Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel - : for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

20 - But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

21 - Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

22 - So 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 that were with Saul - and Jonathan: but with Saul - and with Jonathan his son was there found.

23 - And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.