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.
