War with the Philistines
1 Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel 42 years.
2 Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents. 3 Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was considered an abomination to the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
5 The Philistines assembled together to fight with Israel: 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and a multitude of people like the sand on the seashore. They came up and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits. 7 Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice
8 He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the men were scattering from him. 9 Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings.” He offered the burnt offering.
Samuel Rebukes Saul
10 It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him. 11 Samuel said, “What have you done?”
Saul said, “Because I saw that the men were scattering from me and that you didn’t come within the days appointed and that the Philistines were assembling together at Michmash, 12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of the Lord.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.”
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which he commanded you, for the Lord would have established your kingdom in Israel forever, 14 but now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him to be ruler over his people because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you.”
15 Samuel arose and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about 600 men. 16 Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 another company turned the way to Beth Horon, and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
Israel without Weapons
19 Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears,” 20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his own plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads. 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
23 And the garrison of the Philistines had gone out to secure the pass of Michmash.