Saul Strikes Down the Philistines

1[†]Saul was [†]thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned [†]forty-two years over Israel.

2And Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. 3And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4Then all Israel heard [†]the news that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned [†]to Saul at Gilgal.

5Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 6Now the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed). Then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. 7Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Saul Doesn’t Keep Yahweh’s Commandment

8So he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. 9So Saul said, “Bring near to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10And as soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to [†]greet him. 11But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 13And Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you, for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom [†]over Israel forever. 14But now your kingdom shall not endure. Yahweh has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him as ruler over His people because you have not kept what Yahweh commanded you.”

15Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul [†]numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17And the [†]raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three [†]companies: one [†]company turned [†]toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18and another [†]company turned to the way of Beth-horon, and another [†]company turned to the way of the border which overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make [†]swords or spears.” 20So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his [†]goad. 21And the charge was [†]two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the goad. 22So it happened on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan. 23And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.