1Samuel 13

1 Saul was 30 ^{a13:1 So a few late LXX mss.; the Heb. lacks 30} years old when he began to reign, and he ruled for 42 ^{b13:1 Lit. two; cf. Acts 13:21; Josephus’s Antiquities VI.14.9 cites Saul as reigning 18 years before Samuel’s death and 22 years after. But Antiquities X.8.4 cites only 20 years for Saul’s reign.} years over Israel.ISV — 1Samuel 13:1

2 Saul chose for himself 3,000 men from Israel. There were 2,000 with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He had sent the rest of the people home. ^{c13:2 Lit. each to his own tent}ISV — 1Samuel 13:2

3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison ^{d13:3 Or struck down the Philistine leader} in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land: “Listen, Hebrews!”ISV — 1Samuel 13:3

4 All Israel heard the report, ^{e13:4 Lit. heard, saying} “Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison ^{f13:4 Or struck down the Philistine leader} and Israel has also become repulsive to the Philistines.” Then the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal.ISV — 1Samuel 13:4

5 The Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And they advanced and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.ISV — 1Samuel 13:5

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress (for the people were in a tight spot), the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in crags, in tombs, and in pits.ISV — 1Samuel 13:6

7 Hebrews went across the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.ISV — 1Samuel 13:7

8 Saul ^{g13:8 Lit. He} waited seven days for the appointment set by Samuel. When Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, as the people began to scatter from Saul, ^{h13:8 Lit. him}ISV — 1Samuel 13:8

9 Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering and the peace offering to me,” and he offered the burnt offering.ISV — 1Samuel 13:9

10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet and greet him.ISV — 1Samuel 13:10

11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When? I saw that the people were scattering from me, that you didn’t come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash.ISV — 1Samuel 13:11

12 I ^{i13:11-12 Or When I … Michmash, I} thought, ‘The Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal but I’ve not sought the favor of the LORD,’ so I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”ISV — 1Samuel 13:12

13 Then Samuel told Saul, “You have acted foolishly. You haven’t obeyed the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever,ISV — 1Samuel 13:13

14 but now your kingdom won’t be established. The LORD has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as Commander-in-Chief ^{j13:14 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority} over his people because you didn’t obey that which the LORD commanded you.”ISV — 1Samuel 13:14

15 Then Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul mustered the people present with him, about 600 men.ISV — 1Samuel 13:15

16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people present with them remained in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Michmash.ISV — 1Samuel 13:16

17 Raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three companies. One company turned in the direction of ^{k13:17 Or along the road to} Ophrah, to the land of Shual,ISV — 1Samuel 13:17

18 one company turned in the direction of ^{l13:18 Or along the road to} Beth-horon, while the one company turned toward the border ^{m13:18 Or along the border road} that overlooks the valley of Zeboiim toward the desert.ISV — 1Samuel 13:18

19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines thought, “This will keep the Hebrews from making swords or spears.”ISV — 1Samuel 13:19

20 Everyone in Israel would have to go to the Philistines so each person could sharpen his plow, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle. ^{n13:20 So LXX; MT, plow}ISV — 1Samuel 13:20

21 The charge was one pin ^{o13:21 i.e. a unit of measurement equal to about 2/3 of a shekel, weighing about 0.3 ounces; one shekel weighed about 0.4 ounces} for plows, mattocks, three pronged forks, ^{p13:21 The meaning of MT is uncertain} and axes, or for setting the goads.ISV — 1Samuel 13:21

22 On the day of battle, none of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan were armed with swords or spears, but Saul and his son Jonathan did have ^{q13:22 Lit. were found with} them.ISV — 1Samuel 13:22

23 Now a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash.ISV — 1Samuel 13:23