War Breaks out With the Philistines
13 1 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years. 2 Saul chose three thousand of Israel: two thousand with him at Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, a thousand with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest he sent home, each to his tent. 3 Jonathan struck down the Philistine garrison at Geba, and the Philistines heard. Then Saul blew the trumpet through the land: "Let the Hebrews hear!" 4 All Israel heard Saul had struck down the Philistine garrison, and that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. So the people rallied to Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel — three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as countless as the sand on the seashore. They came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 6 When Israel's men saw they were in trouble — the people were hard pressed — they hid in caves, thickets, rocks, pits, and cisterns. a a v6 Cisterns were rock-hewn underground tanks built to collect and store rainwater. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saul Acts Without the Father's Word
8 He waited seven days, the time Samuel set; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people scattered from him. 9 Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." And he offered up the burnt offering.
10 As he finished the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 "What have you done?" Samuel asked. Saul replied, "I saw the people scattering from me, you did not come at the set time, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,
12 I thought, 'The Philistines will come against me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought our Father's favor.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering."
13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel told Saul. "You didn't keep the command your Father gave you. Had you kept it, our Father would have set your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom will not last. Our Father has sought for himself a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler over his people, because you did not keep what he commanded you.
15 Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted the people with him — about six hundred men.
Israel Left Without Weapons
16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people with them stayed at Geba in Benjamin; the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17 Raiders left the Philistine camp in three companies. One turned toward Ophrah, in the land of Shual; 18 another turned toward Beth-horon; the third toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness. 19 No blacksmith could be found in all Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears." 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, and sickles. 21 The charge was about a quarter ounce of silver for sharpening plowshares, picks, and forks, and about an eighth of an ounce for sharpening axes and for resharpening the goads. b b v21 A goad was a long stick with a sharpened metal tip used to prod cattle into moving. 22 On the day of battle no sword or spear was found among all the people with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
23 A detachment of the Philistines went out to the pass at Michmash.
