1 Saul was forty years old when he began to reign; 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 the Mount
of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the
rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan struck the
garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of
it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews
hear. 4 All Israel heard say that Saul had struck the garrison of the
Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the
Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal. 5 The
Philistines assembled 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 encamped in Michmash,
eastward of Beth Aven. 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 coverts, and in pits.
7 Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and
Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed
him trembling. 8 He stayed seven days, according to the set time that
Samuel had appointed: but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal; and the
people were scattered from him. 9 Saul said, Bring here the burnt offering
to me, and the peace-offerings. He offered the burnt offering. 10 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 greet him.
11 Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw that the
people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days
appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at
Michmash; 12 therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down on me to
Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh: I forced myself
therefore, and offered the burnt offering. 13 Samuel said to Saul, You
have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God,
which he commanded you: for now would Yahweh have established your kingdom on
Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh has
sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be
prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded
you. 15 Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.
Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
16 Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them,
abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
17 The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three
companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of
Shual; 18 and another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another
company turned the way of the border that looks down on 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 plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle; 21 yet they had
a file for the mattocks, and for the plowshares, and for the forks, and for
the axes, and to set 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 who were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan
his son was there found. 23 The garrison of the Philistines went out to
the pass of Michmash.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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