1 Samuel 13:1-14

1Saul was 1thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 2forty two years over Israel.

2Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in 3Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at 4Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. 3Jonathan smote 5the garrison of the Philistines that was in 6Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul 7blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4All Israel heard 8the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel 9had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned 10to Saul at Gilgal.

5Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and 11people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of 12Beth-aven. 6When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then 13the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits. 7Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of 14Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8Now 15he 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. 9So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And 16he offered the burnt offering. 10As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and 17Saul went out to meet him and to 18greet him. 11But 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 19the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 13Samuel said to Saul, “20You have acted foolishly; 21you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom 22over Israel 23forever. 14But 24now your kingdom shall not endure. 25The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”