1 Samuel 13

1SaulH7586 wasH1121 thirty years oldH81411 when he became kingH4427, and he reignedH4427 overH5921 IsraelH3478 forty-twoH8147 yearsH8141.2 2He choseH977 for himself threeH7969 thousandH505 men of IsraelH3478: Two thousandH505 wereH1961 withH5973 SaulH7586 at MichmashH4363 and in the hill countryH2022 of BethelH1008, and a thousandH505 wereH1961 withH5973 JonathanH3129 in GibeahH1390 of BenjaminH1144. And the restH3499 of the troopsH5971 he sent awayH7971, eachH376 to his ownH168 home.

3Then JonathanH3129 attackedH5221 the PhilistineH6430 outpostH5333 at GebaH1387, and the PhilistinesH6430 heardH8085 about it. So SaulH7586 blewH8628 the ram’s hornH7782 throughoutH3605 the landH776, sayingH559, “Let the HebrewsH5680 hearH8085!”

4And allH3605 IsraelH3478 heardH8085 the newsH559: “SaulH7586 has attackedH5221 an outpostH5333 of the PhilistinesH6430, and nowH1571 IsraelH3478 has become a stenchH887 to the PhilistinesH6430!” Then the peopleH5971H310 were summonedH6817 to join SaulH7586 at GilgalH1537.

5Now the PhilistinesH6430 assembledH622 to fightH3898 againstH5973 IsraelH3478 with threeH7970 thousandH5053 chariotsH7393, sixH8337 thousandH505 horsemenH6571, and troopsH5971 as numerousH7230 as the sandH2344 onH5921 the seashoreH8193H3220. They went upH5927 and campedH2583 at MichmashH4363, eastH6926 of Beth-avenH1007.

6SeeingH7200 thatH3588 they were in dangerH6862 becauseH3588 their troopsH5971 were hard-pressedH5065, the menH376 of IsraelH3478 hidH2244 in cavesH4631 and thicketsH2336, among the rocksH5553, and in cellarsH6877 and cisternsH953. 7Some HebrewsH5680 even crossedH5674 the JordanH3383 into the landH776 of GadH1410 and GileadH1568. Saul, howeverH7586, remainedH5750 at GilgalH1537, and allH3605 his troopsH5971 were quaking in fearH2729H310.

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

8And Saul waitedH3176 sevenH7651 daysH3117 for the time appointedH4150 byH834 SamuelH8050, but SamuelH8050 did notH3808 comeH935 to GilgalH1537, and the troopsH5971 began to desertH6327 Saul. 9SoH7586 he saidH559, “Bring meH5066H413 the burnt offeringH5930 and the peace offeringsH8002.” And he offered upH5927 the burnt offeringH5930.

10

Just as he finishedH3615 offeringH5927 the burnt offeringH5930H2009, SamuelH8050 arrivedH935, and SaulH7586 went outH3318 to greet himH7122H1288.

11“WhatH4100 have you doneH6213?” SamuelH8050 askedH559.

And SaulH7586 repliedH559, “WhenH3588 I sawH7200 thatH3588 the troopsH5971 were desertingH5310 meH5921, and that youH859 did notH3808 comeH935 at the appointedH4150 timeH3117 and the PhilistinesH6430 were gatheringH622 at MichmashH4363, 12I thoughtH559, ‘NowH6258 the PhilistinesH6430 will descendH3381 upon meH413 at GilgalH1537, and I have notH3808 soughtH2470 the favorH6440 of the LORDH3068.’ So I felt compelledH662 to offerH5927 the burnt offeringH5930.”

13“You have acted foolishlyH5528,” SamuelH8050 declaredH559. “You have notH3808 keptH8104 the commandH4687 thatH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 gave youH6680; if you hadH6258, the LORDH3068 would have establishedH3559 your kingdomH4467 overH413 IsraelH3478 forH5704 all timeH5769. 14But nowH6258 your kingdomH4467 will notH3808 endureH6965; the LORDH3068 has soughtH1245 a manH376 after His own heartH3824 and appointed himH6680H3068 rulerH5057 overH5921 His peopleH5971, becauseH3588 you have notH3808 keptH8104 the commandH6680 of the LORDH3068.”

15Then SamuelH8050 set outH6965 fromH4480 GilgalH1537 and wentH5927 up to GibeahH1390 in BenjaminH1144.4 And SaulH7586 numberedH6485 the troopsH5971H4672 who were with himH5973, about sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376.

Israel without Weapons

16Now SaulH7586 and JonathanH3129 his sonH1121 and the troopsH5971H4672 with themH5973 were stayingH3427 in GebaH1387 of BenjaminH1144, while the PhilistinesH6430 campedH2583 at MichmashH4363. 17And raidersH7843 went outH3318 of the PhilistineH6430 campH4264 in threeH7969 divisionsH7218. OneH259 headedH6437 towardH413 OphrahH6084 in the landH776 of ShualH7777, 18anotherH259 toward Beth-horonH1032, and theH1032H7218H259 third down the borderH1366 roadH1870 overlookingH8259H5921 the ValleyH1516 of ZeboimH6650 facing the wildernessH4057.

19And noH3808 blacksmithH2796 could be foundH4672 in allH3605 the landH776 of IsraelH3478, becauseH3588 the PhilistinesH6430 had saidH559, “The HebrewsH5680 must not be allowedH6435 to makeH6213 swordsH2719 orH176 spearsH2595.” 20Instead, allH3605 the IsraelitesH3478 would go downH3381 to the PhilistinesH6430 to sharpenH3913H376 their plowsharesH4281, mattocksH855, axesH7134, and sicklesH4281.5 21The chargeH6477 wasH1961 a pimH63106 for sharpening a plowshareH4281 or mattockH855, a thirdH7969 of a shekel for sharpening a pitchforkH7053 or an axeH7134, and a third of a shekel for repointingH5324 an oxgoadH1861.7

22SoH1961 on the dayH3117 of battleH4421 notH3808 a swordH2719 or spearH2595 could be foundH4672 in the handsH3027 of the troopsH3605H5971 withH854 SaulH7586H854 and JonathanH3129H4672; only SaulH7586 and his sonH1121 Jonathan had weaponsH3129.

23And a garrisonH4673 of the PhilistinesH6430H413 had gone outH3318 to the passH4569 at MichmashH4363.