God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 13:1
1Saul was ⌞thirty⌟ years old when he became king, and he was king of Israel ⌞forty-two⌟ years.
1 Samuel 13:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
- New International Version (NIV)Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
Context of 1 Samuel 13:1
Saul was ⌞thirty⌟ years old when he became king, and he was king of Israel ⌞forty-two⌟ years. 2Saul chose 3,000 men from Israel; 2,000 of them were stationed with Saul at Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and 1,000 were stationed with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. But the rest of the people he sent home. 3Jonathan defeated the Philistine troops at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. With the sounding of the ram’s horn throughout the land, Saul announced, “Listen, Hebrews!”
Read all of 1 Samuel 131 Samuel 13:1 word by word
בֶּן־שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָ֖ה שָׁא֣וּל בְּמָלְכ֑וֹ וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים וּשְׁתֵּ֣י שָׁנִ֔ים מָלַ֖ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 13:1
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 13:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Saul reigned one year - A great deal of learned labor has been employed and lost on this verse, to reconcile it with propriety and common sense. I shall not recount the meanings put on it. I think this clause belongs to the preceding chapter, either as a part of the whole, or a chronological note added afterwards; as if the writer had said, These things (related in 1 Samuel 12:1-25) took place in the first year of Saul's reign: and then he proceeds in the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The text of this verse, omitted by the Septuagint, is held to be corrupt, and the numerals denoting Saul‘s age at his accession as well as the duration of his reign, are thought to be omitted or faulty. Saul may have been about 30 at his accession, and have reigned some 32 years, since we know that his grandson Mephibosheth was five years old at Saul‘s death 2 Samuel 4:4; and 32 added to the seven and a half years between the death of Saul and that of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The invasion of the Philistines. (1-7) Saul sacrifices, He is reproved by Samuel. (8-14) The policy of the Philistines. (15-23) Verses 1-7 Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above a year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken and to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency, they are often led into folly. The chief…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1For the kings of Israel and Judah, Scripture usually records their age when they became king and how long they ruled (for example, 2 Samuel 5:4–5; 1 Kings 14:21). thirty years old: This age is likely when Saul became king. The Hebrew text and most Greek manuscripts leave out the number, making the original wording unclear. reigned over Israel forty-two years: See the textual note in the Berean Standard Bible. The Masoretic Text reads "over Israel two…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11Sa 13:1, 2. Saul's Selected Band. 1. Saul reigned one year--(see Margin). The transactions recorded in the eleventh and twelfth chapters were the principal incidents comprising the first year of Saul's reign; and the events about to be described in this happened in the second year.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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