13:1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years
over Israel,
13:2 Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [of which]
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.
13:3 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.
13:4 And all Israel heard it said [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.
13:5 And the Philistines assembled 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 encamped in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.
13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for
the people were distressed) then the people hid themselves in
caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and
in pits.
13:7 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.
13:8 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.
13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt-offering to me, and
peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering.
13:10 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.
13:11 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 assembled at Michmash;
13:12 Therefore said I, the Philistines will now come down upon
me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD; I
forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt-offering.
13:13 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 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.
13:15 And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of
Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people [that were] present with
him, about six hundred men.
13:16 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.
13:17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines
in three companies: one company turned to the way [that leadeth
to] Ophrah, to the land of Shual:
13:18 And another company turned the way [to] Beth-horon: and
another company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh
to the valley of Zeboim towards the wilderness.
13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of
Israel: (for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them]
swords or spears:)
13:20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to
sharpen every man his share, and his colter, and his ax, and
his mattock.
13:21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the colters,
and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
13:22 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.
13:23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the
passage of Michmash.
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