Berean Standard Bible

1 Samuel 13

1Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586wasבֶּן־ben-H1121thirtyyears oldשָׁנָ֖הsha.NahH8141when he became kingבְּמָלְכ֑וֹbe.ma.le.KhoH4427,and he reignedמָלַ֖ךְma.LakhH4427overעַל־'al-H5921Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478forty-twoוּשְׁתֵּ֣יu.she.TeiH8147yearsשָׁנִ֔יםsha.NimH8141.

2Heשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586choseוַיִּבְחַר־vai.yiv.char-H977for himselfthreeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969thousandאֲלָפִים֮'a.la.FimH505menof Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֒mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:Two thousandאַלְפַּ֗יִם'al.Pa.yimH505wereוַיִּהְי֨וּvai.yih.YuH1961withעִם־'im-H5973Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586at Michmashבְּמִכְמָשׂ֙be.mikh.MasH4363and in the hill countryוּבְהַ֣רu.ve.HarH2022of BethelH1008,and a thousandוְאֶ֗לֶףve.'E.lefH505wereהָיוּ֙ha.YuH1961withעִם־'im-H5973Jonathanי֣וֹנָתָ֔ןyo.na.TanH3129in Gibeahבְּגִבְעַ֖תbe.giv.'AtH1390of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֑יןbin.ya.MinH1144.And the restוְיֶ֣תֶרve.Ye.terH3499of the troopsהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971he sent awayשִׁלַּ֖חshi.LachH7971,eachאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376to his ownלְאֹהָלָֽיו׃le.'o.ha.LavH168home.

3Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָ֗ןyo.na.TanH3129אֵ֣ת'etH853attackedוַיַּ֣ךְvai.YakhH5221the Philistineפְּלִשְׁתִּים֙pe.lish.TimH6430outpostנְצִ֤יבne.TzivH5333אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834at Gebaבְּגֶ֔בַעbe.Ge.va'H1387,and the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430heardוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085about it.So Saulוְשָׁאוּל֩ve.sha.'UlH7586blewתָּקַ֨עta.Ka'H8628the ram’s hornבַּשּׁוֹפָ֤רba.sho.FarH7782throughoutבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Let the Hebrewsהָעִבְרִֽים׃ha.'iv.RimH5680hearיִשְׁמְע֖וּyish.me.'UH8085!”

4And allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֞לYis.ra.'ElH3478heardשָׁמְע֣וּsha.me.'UH8085the newsלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559: “Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586אֶת־'et-H853has attackedהִכָּ֤הhi.KahH5221an outpostנְצִ֣יבne.TzivH5333of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430,and nowוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478has become a stenchנִבְאַשׁniv.'ashH887to the Philistinesבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםba.pe.lish.TimH6430!”Then the peopleהָעָ֛ם אַחֲרֵ֥יha.'Am 'a.cha.ReiH5971 H310were summonedוַיִּצָּעֲק֥וּvai.yi.tza.'a.KuH6817to join Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586at Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ha.gil.GalH1537.

5Now the Philistinesוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֞יםu.fe.lish.TimH6430assembledנֶאֶסְפ֣וּ׀ne.'es.FuH622to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֣םle.hi.la.ChemH3898againstעִם־'im-H5973Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478with threeשְׁלֹשִׁ֨יםshe.lo.ShimH7970thousandאֶ֤לֶף'E.lefH505chariotsרֶ֙כֶב֙re.khevH7393,sixוְשֵׁ֤שֶׁתve.She.shetH8337thousandאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505horsemenפָּרָשִׁ֔יםpa.ra.ShimH6571,and troopsוְעָ֕םve.'AmH5971as numerousלָרֹ֑בla.RoH7230as the sandכַּח֛וֹלka.CholH2344אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834onעַל־'al-H5921the seashoreשְׂפַֽת־ הַיָּ֖םse.fat- hai.YamH8193 H3220.They went upוַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙vai.ya.'a.LuH5927and campedוַיַּחֲנ֣וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583at Michmashבְמִכְמָ֔שׂve.mikh.MasH4363,eastקִדְמַ֖תkid.MatH6926of Beth-avenH1007.

6Seeingרָאוּ֙ra.'UH7200thatכִּ֣יkiH3588they werein dangerצַר־tzar-H6862becauseכִּ֥יkiH3588their troopsהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971were hard-pressedנִגַּ֖שׂni.GasH5065,the menוְאִ֨ישׁve.'IshH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478הָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971hidוַיִּֽתְחַבְּא֣וּvai.yit.cha.be.'UH2244in cavesבַּמְּעָר֤וֹתba.me.'a.RotH4631and thicketsוּבַֽחֲוָחִים֙u.va.cha.va.ChimH2336,among the rocksוּבַסְּלָעִ֔יםu.va.se.la.'ImH5553,and in cellarsוּבַצְּרִחִ֖יםu.va.tze.ri.ChimH6877and cisternsוּבַבֹּרֽוֹת׃u.va.bo.RotH953.

7Some Hebrewsוְעִבְרִ֗יםve.'iv.RimH5680even crossedעָֽבְרוּ֙'a.ve.RuH5674אֶת־'et-H853the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןhai.yar.DenH3383into the landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of Gadגָּ֖דgadH1410and Gileadוְגִלְעָ֑דve.gil.'AdH1568.Saul, howeverוְשָׁאוּל֙ve.sha.'UlH7586,remainedעוֹדֶ֣נּוּo.De.nuH5750at Gilgalבַגִּלְגָּ֔לva.gil.GalH1537,and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605his troopsהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971were quaking in fearחָרְד֥וּ אַחֲרָֽיו׃cha.re.Du 'a.cha.RavH2729 H310.

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

8And Saul waitedוַיּ֣וֹחֶלvai.yi.chelH3176sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysיָמִ֗יםya.MimH3117for the time appointedלַמּוֹעֵד֙la.mo.'EdH4150byאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050,but Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050did notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808comeבָ֥אva'H935to Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּ֑לha.gil.GalH1537,and the troopsהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971began to desertוַיָּ֥פֶץvai.Ya.fetzH6327Saulמֵעָלָֽיו׃me.'a.LavH5921.

9Soשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586hesaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Bring meהַגִּ֣שׁוּ אֵלַ֔יha.Gi.shu 'e.LaiH5066 H413the burnt offeringהָעֹלָ֖הha.'o.LahH5930and the peace offeringsוְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑יםve.ha.she.la.MimH8002.”And he offered upוַיַּ֖עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927the burnt offeringהָעֹלָֽה׃ha.'o.LahH5930.

10וַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961Just as he finishedכְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ke.kha.lo.ToH3615offeringלְהַעֲל֣וֹתle.ha.'a.LotH5927the burnt offeringהָעֹלָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥הha.'o.Lah ve.hi.NehH5930 H2009,Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050arrivedבָּ֑אBa'H935,and Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586went outוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318to greet himלִקְרָאת֖וֹ לְבָרֲכֽוֹ׃lik.ra.To le.va.ra.KhoH7122 H1288.

11“Whatמֶ֣הmehH4100have you doneעָשִׂ֑יתָ'a.Si.taH6213?”Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050askedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559.And Saulשָׁא֡וּלsha.'UlH7586repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588I sawרָאִיתִי֩ra.'i.TiH7200thatכִֽי־khi-H3588the troopsהָעָ֜םha.'AmH5971were desertingנָפַ֨ץna.FatzH5310meמֵעָלַ֗יme.'a.LaiH5921,and that youוְאַתָּה֙ve.'a.TahH859did notלֹא־lo'-H3808comeבָ֙אתָ֙va.taH935at the appointedלְמוֹעֵ֣דle.mo.'EdH4150timeהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117and the Philistinesוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםu.fe.lish.TimH6430were gatheringנֶאֱסָפִ֥יםne.'e.sa.FimH622at Michmashמִכְמָֽשׂ׃mikh.MasH4363,

12I thoughtוָאֹמַ֗רva.'o.MarH559, ‘Nowעַ֠תָּה'A.tahH6258the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֤יםfe.lish.TimH6430will descendיֵרְד֨וּye.re.DuH3381upon meאֵלַי֙'e.LaiH413at Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּ֔לha.gil.GalH1537,and I have notלֹ֣אlo'H3808soughtחִלִּ֑יתִיchi.Li.tiH2470the favorוּפְנֵ֥יu.fe.NeiH6440of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068.’So I felt compelledוָֽאֶתְאַפַּ֔קva.'et.'a.PakH662to offerוָאַעֲלֶ֖הva.'a.'a.LehH5927the burnt offeringהָעֹלָֽה׃ סha.'o.LahH5930.”

13“You have acted foolishlyנִסְכָּ֑לְתָּnis.Kal.taH5528,”Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֛לshe.mu.'ElH8050declaredוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559אֶל־'el-H413שָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586. “You have notלֹ֣אlo'H3808keptשָׁמַ֗רְתָּsha.Mar.taH8104אֶת־'et-H853the commandמִצְוַ֞תmitz.VatH4687thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430gave youצִוָּ֔ךְtzi.VakhH6680כִּ֣יkiH3588;if you hadעַתָּ֗ה'a.TahH6258,the LORDיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068אֶת־'et-H853would have establishedהֵכִ֨יןhe.KhinH3559your kingdomמַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛mam.lakh.te.KhaH4467overאֶל־'el-H413Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478forעַד־'ad-H5704all timeעוֹלָֽם׃o.LamH5769.

14But nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258your kingdomמַמְלַכְתְּךָ֣mam.lakh.te.KhaH4467will notלֹא־lo'-H3808endureתָק֑וּםta.KumH6965;the LORDיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068has soughtבִּקֵּשׁ֩bi.KeshH1245a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376after His own heartכִּלְבָב֗וֹkil.va.VoH3824and appointed himוַיְצַוֵּ֨הוּ יְהוָ֤הvay.tza.Ve.hu Yah.wehH6680 H3068rulerלְנָגִיד֙le.na.GidH5057overעַל־'al-H5921His peopleעַמּ֔וֹa.MoH5971,becauseכִּ֚יkiH3588you have notלֹ֣אlo'H3808keptשָׁמַ֔רְתָּsha.Mar.taH8104אֵ֥ת'etH853אֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834the commandצִוְּךָ֖tzi.ve.KhaH6680of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.”

15Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050set outוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965fromH4480GilgalH1537and wentH5927up to Gibeahגִּבְעַ֣תgiv.'AtH1390in Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֑ןbin.ya.MinH1144.And SaulH7586אֶת־'et-H853numberedוַיִּפְקֹ֣דvai.yif.KodH6485the troopsהַנִּמְצְאִ֣יםha.nim.tze.'ImH5971 H4672who were with himעִמּ֔וֹi.MoH5973,about sixכְּשֵׁ֥שׁke.SheshH8337hundredמֵא֖וֹתme.'otH3967menאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

Israel without Weapons

16Now Saulוְשָׁא֞וּלve.sha.'UlH7586and Jonathanוְיוֹנָתָ֣ןve.yo.na.TanH3129his sonבְּנ֗וֹbe.NoH1121and the troopsוְהָעָם֙ הַנִּמְצָ֣אve.ha.'Am ha.nim.Tza'H5971 H4672with themעִמָּ֔ם'i.MamH5973were stayingיֹשְׁבִ֖יםyo.she.VimH3427in Gebaבְּגֶ֣בַעbe.Ge.va'H1387of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֑ןbin.ya.MinH1144,while the Philistinesוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםu.fe.lish.TimH6430campedחָנ֥וּcha.NuH2583at Michmashבְמִכְמָֽשׂ׃ve.mikh.MasH4363.

17And raidersהַמַּשְׁחִ֛יתha.mash.ChitH7843went outוַיֵּצֵ֧אvai.ye.Tze'H3318of the Philistineפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםfe.lish.TimH6430campמִמַּחֲנֵ֥הmi.ma.cha.NehH4264in threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֣הshe.lo.ShahH7969divisionsרָאשִׁ֑יםra.ShimH7218.Oneאֶחָ֥ד'e.ChadH259הָרֹ֨אשׁha.RoshH7218headedיִפְנֶ֛הyif.NehH6437towardאֶל־'el-H413Ophrahעָפְרָ֖ה'a.fe.RahH6084דֶּ֥רֶךְDe.rekhH1870אֶל־'el-H413in the landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of Shualשׁוּעָֽל׃shu.'AlH7777,

18anotherאֶחָד֙'e.ChadH259וְהָרֹ֤אשׁve.ha.RoshH7218יִפְנֶ֔הyif.NehH6437toward Beth-horonבֵּ֣יתbeitH1032דֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekhH1870,and theחֹר֑וֹן וְהָרֹ֨אשׁ אֶחָ֤דcho.Ron ve.ha.Rosh 'e.ChadH1032 H7218 H259thirdיִפְנֶה֙yif.NehH6437down the borderהַגְּב֔וּלha.ge.VulH1366roadדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870overlookingהַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף עַל־ha.nish.Kaf 'al-H8259 H5921the Valleyגֵּ֥יgeiH1516of Zeboimהַצְּבֹעִ֖יםha.tze.vo.'ImH6650facing the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ סha.mid.Ba.rahH4057.

19And noלֹ֣אlo'H3808blacksmithוְחָרָשׁ֙ve.cha.RashH2796could be foundיִמָּצֵ֔אyi.ma.Tze'H4672in allבְּכֹ֖לbe.KholH3605the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםfe.lish.TimH6430had saidאָמְר֣וּ'a.marH559, “The Hebrewsהָעִבְרִ֔יםha.'iv.RimH5680must not be allowedפֶּ֚ןpenH6435to makeיַעֲשׂ֣וּya.'a.SuH6213swordsחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719orא֥וֹ'oH176spearsחֲנִֽית׃cha.NitH2595.”

20Instead, allכָל־khol-H3605the Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478would go downוַיֵּרְד֥וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381to the Philistinesהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםha.pe.lish.TimH6430to sharpenלִ֠לְטוֹשׁ אִ֣ישׁLil.to.osh 'ishH3913 H376אֶת־'et-H853their plowsharesמַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤וֹma.cha.rash.ToH4281וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,mattocksאֵתוֹ֙'e.ToH855וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,axesקַרְדֻּמּ֔וֹkar.du.MoH7134וְאֵ֖תve.'EtH853,and sicklesמַחֲרֵשָׁתֽוֹ׃ma.cha.re.sha.ToH4281.

21The chargeהַפְּצִ֣ירָהha.pe.Tzi.rahH6477wasוְֽהָיְתָ֞הve.ha.ye.TahH1961a pimפִ֗יםFimH6310for sharpening a plowshareלַמַּֽחֲרֵשֹׁת֙la.ma.cha.re.ShotH4281or mattockוְלָ֣אֵתִ֔יםve.La.'e.TimH855,a thirdוְלִשְׁלֹ֥שׁve.lish.LoshH7969of a shekelfor sharpening a pitchforkקִלְּשׁ֖וֹןki.le.ShonH7053or an axeוּלְהַקַּרְדֻּמִּ֑יםu.le.hak.kar.du.MimH7134,and a third of a shekel for repointingוּלְהַצִּ֖יבu.le.ha.TzivH5324an oxgoadהַדָּרְבָֽן׃ha.da.re.VanH1861.

22Soוְהָיָה֙ve.ha.YahH1961on the dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117of battleמִלְחֶ֔מֶתmil.Che.metH4421notוְלֹ֨אve.Lo'H3808a swordחֶ֤רֶבChe.revH2719or spearוַחֲנִית֙va.cha.NitH2595could be foundנִמְצָ֜אnim.Tza'H4672in the handsבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the troopsכָּל־ הָעָ֔םkol- ha.'AmH3605 H5971אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834withאֶת־'et-H854Saulשָׁא֖וּל וְאֶת־sha.'Ul ve.'EtH7586 H854and Jonathanיוֹנָתָ֑ן וַתִּמָּצֵ֣אyo.na.Tan va.ti.ma.Tze'H3129 H4672;only Saulלְשָׁא֔וּלle.sha.'UlH7586and his sonבְּנֽוֹ׃be.NoH1121Jonathan had weaponsוּלְיוֹנָתָ֖ןu.le.yo.na.TanH3129.

23And a garrisonמַצַּ֣בma.TzavH4673of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֶֽל־pe.lish.Tim 'el-H6430 H413had gone outוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318to the passמַעֲבַ֖רma.'a.VarH4569at Michmashמִכְמָֽשׂ׃ סmikh.MasH4363.

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

Israel without Weapons

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 13