1 Saul was 1As in some mss of the LXX; Heb omits thirtythirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 2See Acts 13:21; Heb omits fortyforty two years over Israel.

2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in A1 Sam 13:5; 14:31Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at B1 Sam 10:26Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. 3 Jonathan smote A1 Sam 10:5the garrison of the Philistines that was in B1 Sam 13:16; 14:5Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul CJudg 3:27; 6:34blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 All Israel heard 1Lit sayingthe news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel AGen 34:30; Ex 5:21; 2 Sam 10:6had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned 2Lit afterto Saul at Gilgal.

5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and AJosh 11:4people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of BJosh 18:12; 1 Sam 14:23Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then AJudg 6:2the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. 7 Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of ANum 32:33Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 Now A1 Sam 10:8he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And ADeut 12:5-14; 2 Sam 24:25; 1 Kin 3:4he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and A1 Sam 15:13Saul went out to meet him and to 1Lit blessgreet him. 11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that A1 Sam 13:2, 5, 16, 23the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Loʀᴅ.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 13 Samuel said to Saul, “A2 Chr 16:9You have acted foolishly; B1 Sam 15:11, 22, 28you have not kept the commandment of the Loʀᴅ your God, which He commanded you, for now the Loʀᴅ would have established your kingdom 1Lit toover Israel C1 Sam 1:22forever. 14  “But A1 Sam 15:28now your kingdom shall not endure. BActs 7:46; 13:22The Loʀᴅ has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Loʀᴅ has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Loʀᴅ commanded you.”

15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to A1 Sam 13:2Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul 1Lit musterednumbered the people who were present with him, B1 Sam 13:2, 6, 7; 14:2about six hundred men. 16 Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in A1 Sam 13:2, 3Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17 And A1 Sam 14:15the 1Lit destroyersraiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three 2Lit headscompanies: one 3Lit headcompany turned 4Lit toward the direction oftoward BJosh 18:23Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 and another 1Lit headcompany turned 2Lit the direction oftoward AJosh 16:3; 18:13, 14Beth-horon, and another 1Lit headcompany turned 2Lit the direction oftoward the border which overlooks the valley of BNeh 11:34Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now AJudg 5:8; 2 Kin 24:14; Jer 24:1; 29:2no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make 1Lit sword or spearBJudg 5:8swords or spears.” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe. 21 The charge was 1Heb pimtwo-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the hoes. 22 So it came about on the day of battle that AJudg 5:8neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan. 23 And A1 Sam 14:1; 2 Sam 23:14the garrison of the Philistines went out to B1 Sam 14:4, 5; Is 10:28the pass of Michmash.