[[1 Samuel 12|<< 1 Samuel 12]] | [[1 Samuel|1 Samuel]] | [[1 Samuel 14|1 Samuel 14 >>]] ### 1 Samuel 13 1 SAUL reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, ^1 2 Saul chose him three thousand _men_ of Israel; _whereof_ two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. ^2 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. ^3 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. ^4 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 Beth-aven. ^5 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. ^6 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. ^7 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. ^8 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. ^9 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. ^10 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; ^11 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. ^12 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. ^13 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him _to_ _be_ captain over his people, because thou hast not kept _that_ which the LORD commanded thee. ^14 15 And Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people _that_ _were_ present with him, about six hundred men. ^15 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. ^16 17 ¶ And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way _that_ _leads_ _to_ Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: ^17 18 And another company turned the way _to_ Beth-horon: and another company turned _to_ the way of the border that looks to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. ^18 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: ^19 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. ^20 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. ^21 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. ^22 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash. ^23