1 Samuel 13

Saul Faces the Philistine Threat

1Saul was ... years old when he became king, and he reigned ... and two years over Israel. 2Saul chose for himself three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, each man to his tent. 3Jonathan struck the Philistine garrison that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4All Israel heard it said, “Saul has struck the garrison of the Philistines, and Israel has also become odious to the Philistines.” So the people were called together after Saul at Gilgal.

The Philistines Gather against Israel

5The Philistines gathered to fight with Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-Aven. 6When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress, for the people were hard pressed, the people hid themselves in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. 7Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people following him were trembling.

Saul Offers the Burnt Offering

8He waited seven days, according to the appointed time Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9Saul said, “Bring near to me the burnt offering and the offerings of well-being.” And he offered the burnt offering. 10And it happened as he finished offering the burnt offering that, behold, Samuel came. Saul went out to meet him and bless him. 11Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and you did not come within the appointed days, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 12I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”

Samuel Announces the Loss of Saul’s Dynasty

13Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God that he commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for himself a man according to his heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you did not keep what the LORD commanded you.” 15Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were found with him, about six hundred men.

Israel Has No Smiths

16Saul and Jonathan his son and the people found with them were staying at Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash. 17Raiders came out from the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward the way of Ophrah, toward the land of Shual; 18another company turned toward the way of Beth-Horon; and another company turned toward the way of the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19Now no blacksmith was found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make sword or spear.” 20So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle. 21The charge was a pim for the plowshares and mattocks and one-third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and setting the goads. 22So it happened on 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 they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son. 23And a garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.