War with the Philistines

1  בֶּן־ (A son) שָׁנָ֖ה (of a year), שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) בְּמָלְכ֑וֹ (reigned), וּשְׁתֵּ֣י (and two) שָׁנִ֔ים (years) מָלַ֖ךְ (he had reigned) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel), 2  וַיִּבְחַר־ (and chose) ל֨וֹ (for himself) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (three) אֲלָפִים֮ (thousand) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel): וַיִּהְי֨וּ (And were) עִם־ (with) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אַלְפַּ֗יִם (two thousand) בְּמִכְמָשׂ֙ (in Michmash) וּבְהַ֣ר (and in the hill country) בֵּֽית־ (of Beth-) אֵ֔ל (el), וְאֶ֗לֶף (and a thousand) הָיוּ֙ (were) עִם־ (with) י֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (Jonathan) בְּגִבְעַ֖ת (in Gibeah) בִּנְיָמִ֑ין (of Benjamin). וְיֶ֣תֶר (And the rest) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) שִׁלַּ֖ח (he sent away), אִ֥ישׁ (every man) לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃ (to his tent).

3  וַיַּ֣ךְ (And struck) יוֹנָתָ֗ן (Jonathan) אֵ֣ת (-) נְצִ֤יב (the garrison) פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ (of the Philistines) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) בְּגֶ֔בַע (in Geba), וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ (and heard of it) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines). וְשָׁאוּל֩ (And Saul) תָּקַ֨ע (blew) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֤ר (upon a shofar) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (the land), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), יִשְׁמְע֖וּ (Let hear) הָעִבְרִֽים׃ (the Hebrews).

4  וְכָל־ (And all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֞ל (Israel) שָׁמְע֣וּ (heard) לֵאמֹ֗ר (it said), הִכָּ֤ה (Has attacked) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶת־ (-) נְצִ֣יב (a garrison) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines), וְגַם־ (and also) נִבְאַשׁ (has become a stench) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (to the Philistines). וַיִּצָּעֲק֥וּ (And were called together) הָעָ֛ם (the people) אַחֲרֵ֥י (to) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ (at Gilgal).

5  וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֞ים (And the Philistines) נֶאֶסְפ֣וּ׀ (gathered together) לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם (to fight) עִם־ (with) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel)— שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים (thirty) אֶ֤לֶף (thousand) רֶ֙כֶב֙ (chariots), וְשֵׁ֤שֶׁת (and six) אֲלָפִים֙ (thousand) פָּרָשִׁ֔ים (horsemen), וְעָ֕ם (and people) כַּח֛וֹל (like the sand) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עַל־ (is on) שְׂפַֽת־ (the shore) הַיָּ֖ם (of the sea) לָרֹ֑ב (in multitude). וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ (And they came up) וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ (and encamped) בְמִכְמָ֔שׂ (in Michmash), קִדְמַ֖ת (to the east) בֵּ֥ית (of Beth-) אָֽוֶן׃ (aven).

6  וְאִ֨ישׁ (And the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (of Israel) רָאוּ֙ (saw) כִּ֣י (that) צַר־ (it was narrow) ל֔וֹ (to them), כִּ֥י (for) נִגַּ֖שׂ (were distressed) הָעָ֑ם (the people). וַיִּֽתְחַבְּא֣וּ (And hid) הָעָ֗ם (the people) בַּמְּעָר֤וֹת (in the caves), וּבַֽחֲוָחִים֙ (and in the thickets) וּבַסְּלָעִ֔ים (and in the cliffs), וּבַצְּרִחִ֖ים (and in the holes), וּבַבֹּרֽוֹת׃ (and in the pits). 7  וְעִבְרִ֗ים (And Hebrews) עָֽבְרוּ֙ (passed over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (the Jordan) אֶ֥רֶץ (to the land) גָּ֖ד (of Gad) וְגִלְעָ֑ד (and Gilead). וְשָׁאוּל֙ (And as for Saul), עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ (he was still) בַגִּלְגָּ֔ל (in Gilgal), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) חָרְד֥וּ (trembled) אַחֲרָֽיו׃ (after him).

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

8  וַיִּיחֶל (And he waited) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) יָמִ֗ים (days), לַמּוֹעֵד֙ (for the appointed time) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel appointed), וְלֹא־ (not) בָ֥א (did come) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל (to Gilgal). וַיָּ֥פֶץ (And were scattered) הָעָ֖ם (the people) מֵעָלָֽיו׃ (from him). 9  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), הַגִּ֣שׁוּ (Bring) אֵלַ֔י (here to me) הָעֹלָ֖ה (the burnt offering) וְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים (and the peace offerings), וַיַּ֖עַל (and he offered) הָעֹלָֽה׃ (the burnt offering).

10  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ (as he finished) לְהַעֲל֣וֹת (offering) הָעֹלָ֔ה (the burnt offering), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (that) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) בָּ֑א (came), וַיֵּצֵ֥א (and went out) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) לִקְרָאת֖וֹ (to meet him) לְבָרֲכֽוֹ׃ (to bless him).

11  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel), מֶ֣ה (What) עָשִׂ֑יתָ (have you done)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֡וּל (Saul), כִּֽי־ (When) רָאִיתִי֩ (I saw) כִֽי־ (that) נָפַ֨ץ (were scattered) הָעָ֜ם (the people) מֵעָלַ֗י (from me), וְאַתָּה֙ (and you) לֹא־ (not) בָ֙אתָ֙ (did come) לְמוֹעֵ֣ד (at the appointed time) הַיָּמִ֔ים (of the days), וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (and the Philistines) נֶאֱסָפִ֥ים (gathered together) מִכְמָֽשׂ׃ (at Michmash), 12  וָאֹמַ֗ר (and I said), עַ֠תָּה (Now) יֵרְד֨וּ (will come down) פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים (the Philistines) אֵלַי֙ (upon me) הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל (at Gilgal), וּפְנֵ֥י (and to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) לֹ֣א (not) חִלִּ֑יתִי (I have made supplication). וָֽאֶתְאַפַּ֔ק (And I forced myself) וָאַעֲלֶ֖ה (and I offered) הָעֹלָֽה׃ס (the burnt offering).

13  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul), נִסְכָּ֑לְתָּ (You have been foolish). לֹ֣א (Not) שָׁמַ֗רְתָּ (you have kept) אֶת־ (-) מִצְוַ֞ת (the commandment) יְהוָ֤ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your God), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) צִוָּ֔ךְ (He commanded you). כִּ֣י (For) עַתָּ֗ה (now) הֵכִ֨ין (would have established) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ (your kingdom) אֶל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever). 14  וְעַתָּ֖ה (And) מַמְלַכְתְּךָ֣ (your kingdom) לֹא־ (not) תָק֑וּם (shall continue). בִּקֵּשׁ֩ (Has sought) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) ל֜וֹ (for Himself) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) כִּלְבָב֗וֹ (after His own heart), וַיְצַוֵּ֨הוּ (and has commanded him) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) לְנָגִיד֙ (to be ruler) עַל־ (over) עַמּ֔וֹ (His people), כִּ֚י (because) לֹ֣א (not) שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ (you have kept) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (what) צִוְּךָ֖ (commanded you) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH).

15  וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel) וַיַּ֛עַל (and went up) מִן־ (from) הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל (Gilgal) גִּבְעַ֣ת (to Gibeah) בִּנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin). וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד (And numbered) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (-) הָעָם֙ (the people) הַנִּמְצְאִ֣ים (present) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him), כְּשֵׁ֥שׁ (about six) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

Israel without Weapons

16  וְשָׁא֞וּל (And Saul), וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן (and Jonathan) בְּנ֗וֹ (his son), וְהָעָם֙ (and the people) הַנִּמְצָ֣א (present) עִמָּ֔ם (with them) יֹשְׁבִ֖ים (remained) בְּגֶ֣בַע (in Geba) בִּנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin). וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (And the Philistines) חָנ֥וּ (encamped) בְמִכְמָֽשׂ׃ (in Michmash). 17  וַיֵּצֵ֧א (And went out) הַמַּשְׁחִ֛ית (the destroyer) מִמַּחֲנֵ֥ה (from the camp) פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (of the Philistines)— שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה (three) רָאשִׁ֑ים (companies). הָרֹ֨אשׁ (Company) אֶחָ֥ד (one) יִפְנֶ֛ה (turned) אֶל־ (to) דֶּ֥רֶךְ (the way) עָפְרָ֖ה (of Ophrah), אֶל־ (to) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) שׁוּעָֽל׃ (of Shual). 18  וְהָרֹ֤אשׁ (And company) אֶחָד֙ (one) יִפְנֶ֔ה (turned to) דֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way) בֵּ֣ית (of Beth-) חֹר֑וֹן (Horon). וְהָרֹ֨אשׁ (And company) אֶחָ֤ד (one) יִפְנֶה֙ (turned to) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) הַגְּב֔וּל (of the border) הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף (which is looking) עַל־ (on) גֵּ֥י (the Valley of Zeboim) הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים (of Zeboim) הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ס (toward the wilderness).

19  וְחָרָשׁ֙ (And blacksmith) לֹ֣א (not) יִמָּצֵ֔א (there was to be found) בְּכֹ֖ל (throughout all) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), כִּֽי־ (for) אָמַר (said) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines), פֶּ֚ן (Lest) יַעֲשׂ֣וּ (make) הָעִבְרִ֔ים (the Hebrews) חֶ֖רֶב (swords) א֥וֹ (or) חֲנִֽית׃ (spears). 20  וַיֵּרְד֥וּ (And would go down) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (to the Philistines) לִ֠לְטוֹשׁ (to sharpen) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶת־ (-) מַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤וֹ (his plowshare), וְאֶת־ (and) אֵתוֹ֙ (his mattock), וְאֶת־ (and) קַרְדֻּמּ֔וֹ (his ax), וְאֵ֖ת (and) מַחֲרֵשָׁתֽוֹ׃ (his plowshare). 21  וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה (And was) הַפְּצִ֣ירָה (the charge) פִ֗ים (a pim) לַמַּֽחֲרֵשֹׁת֙ (for the plowshares) וְלָ֣אֵתִ֔ים (and the mattocks), וְלִשְׁלֹ֥שׁ (and for a third), קִלְּשׁ֖וֹן (the forks) וּלְהַקַּרְדֻּמִּ֑ים (and the axes) וּלְהַצִּ֖יב (and to set the points) הַדָּרְבָֽן׃ (of the goads).

22  וְהָיָה֙ (And it came to pass) בְּי֣וֹם (on the day) מִלְחֶ֔מֶת (of battle), וְלֹ֨א (that not) נִמְצָ֜א (there was found) חֶ֤רֶב (a sword) וַחֲנִית֙ (or spear) בְּיַ֣ד (in the hand) כָּל־ (of any) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) אֶת־ (with) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) וְאֶת־ (and) יוֹנָתָ֑ן (Jonathan). וַתִּמָּצֵ֣א (And one was found) לְשָׁא֔וּל (for Saul) וּלְיוֹנָתָ֖ן (and for Jonathan) בְּנֽוֹ׃ (his son).

23  וַיֵּצֵא֙ (And went out) מַצַּ֣ב (the garrison) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines) אֶֽל־ (to) מַעֲבַ֖ר (the pass) מִכְמָֽשׂ׃ס (of Michmash).