¹ Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

² Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

³ And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

⁴ And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

⁶ When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

⁷ And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

⁸ And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

⁹ And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

¹⁰ And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

¹¹ And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

¹² Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

¹⁴ But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

¹⁵ And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

¹⁷ And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:

¹⁸ And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

²⁰ But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

²¹ Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

²² So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

²³ And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

---

¹ Saul ^H7586 reigned ^H4427 one year; ^{H1121 H8141} and when he had reigned ^H4427 two ^H8147 years ^H8141 over Israel, ^H3478

² Saul ^H7586 chose ^H977 him three ^H7969 thousand ^H505 men of Israel; ^H3478 whereof two thousand ^H505 were with Saul ^H7586 in Michmash ^H4363 and in mount ^H2022 Bethel, ^H1008 and a thousand ^H505 were with Jonathan ^H3129 in Gibeah ^H1390 of Benjamin: ^H1144 and the rest ^H3499 of the people ^H5971 he sent ^H7971 every man ^H376 to his tent. ^H168

³ And Jonathan ^H3129 smote ^H5221 the garrison ^H5333 of the Philistines ^H6430 that was in Geba, ^H1387 and the Philistines ^H6430 heard ^H8085 of it. And Saul ^H7586 blew ^H8628 the trumpet ^H7782 throughout all the land, ^H776 saying, ^H559 Let the Hebrews ^H5680 hear. ^H8085

⁴ And all Israel ^H3478 heard ^H8085 say ^H559 that Saul ^H7586 had smitten ^H5221 a garrison ^H5333 of the Philistines, ^H6430 and that Israel ^H3478 also was had in abomination ^H887 with the Philistines. ^H6430 And the people ^H5971 were called together ^H6817 after ^H310 Saul ^H7586 to Gilgal. ^H1537

⁵ And the Philistines ^H6430 gathered themselves together ^H622 to fight ^H3898 with Israel, ^H3478 thirty ^H7970 thousand ^H505 chariots, ^H7393 and six ^H8337 thousand ^H505 horsemen, ^H6571 and people ^H5971 as the sand ^H2344 which is on the sea ^H3220 shore ^H8193 in multitude: ^H7230 and they came up, ^H5927 and pitched ^H2583 in Michmash, ^H4363 eastward ^H6926 from Bethaven. ^H1007

⁶ When the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 saw ^H7200 that they were in a strait, ^H6887 (for the people ^H5971 were distressed,) ^H5065 then the people ^H5971 did hide ^H2244 themselves in caves, ^H4631 and in thickets, ^H2337 and in rocks, ^H5553 and in high places, ^H6877 and in pits. ^H953

⁷ And some of the Hebrews ^H5680 went over ^H5674 Jordan ^H3383 to the land ^H776 of Gad ^H1410 and Gilead. ^H1568 As for Saul, ^H7586 he was yet in Gilgal, ^H1537 and all the people ^H5971 followed ^H310 him trembling. ^H2729

⁸ And he tarried ^{H3176 H3176} seven ^H7651 days, ^H3117 according to the set time ^H4150 that Samuel ^H8050 had appointed: but Samuel ^H8050 came ^H935 not to Gilgal; ^H1537 and the people ^H5971 were scattered ^H6327 from him.

⁹ And Saul ^H7586 said, ^H559 Bring hither ^H5066 a burnt offering ^H5930 to me, and peace offerings. ^H8002 And he offered ^H5927 the burnt offering. ^H5930

¹⁰ And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end ^H3615 of offering ^H5927 the burnt offering, ^H5930 behold, Samuel ^H8050 came; ^H935 and Saul ^H7586 went out ^H3318 to meet ^H7125 him, that he might salute ^H1288 him.

¹¹ And Samuel ^H8050 said, ^H559 What hast thou done? ^H6213 And Saul ^H7586 said, ^H559 Because I saw ^H7200 that the people ^H5971 were scattered ^H5310 from me, and that thou camest ^H935 not within the days ^H3117 appointed, ^H4150 and that the Philistines ^H6430 gathered themselves together ^H622 at Michmash; ^H4363

¹² Therefore said ^H559 I, The Philistines ^H6430 will come down ^H3381 now upon me to Gilgal, ^H1537 and I have not made supplication ^H2470 unto ^H6440 the LORD: ^H3068 I forced ^H662 myself therefore, and offered ^H5927 a burnt offering. ^H5930

¹³ And Samuel ^H8050 said ^H559 to Saul, ^H7586 Thou hast done foolishly: ^H5528 thou hast not kept ^H8104 the commandment ^H4687 of the LORD ^H3068 thy God, ^H430 which he commanded ^H6680 thee: for now would the LORD ^H3068 have established ^H3559 thy kingdom ^H4467 upon Israel ^H3478 for ^H5704 ever. ^H5769

¹⁴ But now thy kingdom ^H4467 shall not continue: ^H6965 the LORD ^H3068 hath sought ^H1245 him a man ^H376 after his own heart, ^H3824 and the LORD ^H3068 hath commanded ^H6680 him to be captain ^H5057 over his people, ^H5971 because thou hast not kept ^H8104 that which the LORD ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 thee.

¹⁵ And Samuel ^H8050 arose, ^H6965 and gat him up ^H5927 from Gilgal ^H1537 unto Gibeah ^H1390 of Benjamin. ^H1144 And Saul ^H7586 numbered ^H6485 the people ^H5971 that were present ^H4672 with him, about six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men. ^H376

¹⁶ And Saul, ^H7586 and Jonathan ^H3129 his son, ^H1121 and the people ^H5971 that were present ^H4672 with them, abode ^H3427 in Gibeah ^H1387 of Benjamin: ^H1144 but the Philistines ^H6430 encamped ^H2583 in Michmash. ^H4363

¹⁷ And the spoilers ^H7843 came out ^H3318 of the camp ^H4264 of the Philistines ^H6430 in three ^H7969 companies: ^H7218 one ^H259 company ^H7218 turned ^H6437 unto the way ^H1870 that leadeth to Ophrah, ^H6084 unto the land ^H776 of Shual: ^H7777

¹⁸ And another ^H259 company ^H7218 turned ^H6437 the way ^H1870 to Bethhoron: ^H1032 and another ^H259 company ^H7218 turned ^H6437 to the way ^H1870 of the border ^H1366 that looketh ^H8259 to the valley ^H1516 of Zeboim ^H6650 toward the wilderness. ^H4057

¹⁹ Now there was no smith ^H2796 found ^H4672 throughout all the land ^H776 of Israel: ^H3478 for the Philistines ^H6430 said, ^H559 Lest the Hebrews ^H5680 make ^H6213 them swords ^H2719 or spears: ^H2595

²⁰ But all the Israelites ^H3478 went down ^H3381 to the Philistines, ^H6430 to sharpen ^H3913 every man ^H376 his share, ^H4282 and his coulter, ^H855 and his axe, ^H7134 and his mattock. ^H4281

²¹ Yet they had a file ^{H6477 H6310} for the mattocks, ^H4281 and for the coulters, ^H855 and for the forks, ^{H7969 H7053} and for the axes, ^H7134 and to sharpen ^H5324 the goads. ^H1861

²² So it came to pass in the day ^H3117 of battle, ^H4421 that there was neither sword ^H2719 nor spear ^H2595 found ^H4672 in the hand ^H3027 of any of the people ^H5971 that were with Saul ^H7586 and Jonathan: ^H3129 but with Saul ^H7586 and with Jonathan ^H3129 his son ^H1121 was there found. ^H4672

²³ And the garrison ^H4673 of the Philistines ^H6430 went out ^H3318 to the passage ^H4569 of Michmash. ^H4363

---

¹ Saul was `forty' years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

² Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

³ And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

⁴ And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.

⁶ When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, 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 yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

⁸ And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel `had appointed': but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

⁹ And Saul said, Bring hither the burnt-offering to me, and the peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering.

¹⁰ And it came to pass that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

¹¹ And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;

¹² therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Jehovah: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering.

¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

¹⁴ But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah hath appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.

¹⁵ And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

¹⁷ And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;

¹⁸ and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

²⁰ but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock;

²¹ yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads.

²² So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

²³ And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.

---

¹ A son of a year `is' Saul in his reigning, yea, two years he hath reigned over Israel,

² and Saul chooseth for himself three thousand `men' out of Israel; and two thousand are with Saul in Michmash, and in the hill-country of Beth-El; and a thousand have been with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; and the remnant of the people he hath sent each to his tents.

³ And Jonathan smiteth the garrison of the Philistines which `is' in Geba, and the Philistines hear, and Saul hath blown with a trumpet through all the land, saying, `Let the Hebrews hear.'

⁴ And all Israel have heard, saying, `Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines,' and also, `Israel hath been abhorred by the Philistines;' and the people are called after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ And the Philistines have been gathered to fight with Israel; thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and a people as the sand which `is' on the sea-shore for multitude; and they come up and encamp in Michmash, east of Beth-Aven.

⁶ And the men of Israel have seen that they are distressed, that the people hath been oppressed, and the people hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

⁷ And Hebrews have passed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; and Saul `is' yet in Gilgal, and all the people have trembled after him.

⁸ And he waiteth seven days, according to the appointment with Samuel, and Samuel hath not come to Gilgal, and the people are scattered from off him.

⁹ And Saul saith, `Bring nigh unto me the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings;' and he causeth the burnt-offering to ascend.

¹⁰ And it cometh to pass at his completing to cause the burnt-offering to ascend, that lo, Samuel hath come, and Saul goeth out to meet him, to bless him;

¹¹ and Samuel saith, `What hast thou done?' And Saul saith, `Because I saw that the people were scattered from off me, and thou hadst not come at the appointment of the days, and the Philistines are gathered to Michmash,

¹² and I say, Now do the Philistines come down unto me to Gilgal, and the face of Jehovah I have not appeased; and I force myself, and cause the burnt-offering to ascend.'

¹³ And Samuel saith unto Saul, `Thou hast been foolish; thou hast not kept the command of Jehovah thy God, which He commanded thee, for now had Jehovah established thy kingdom over Israel unto the age;

¹⁴ and, now, thy kingdom doth not stand, Jehovah hath sought for Himself a man according to His own heart, and Jehovah chargeth him for leader over His people, for thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.'

¹⁵ And Samuel riseth, and goeth up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin; and Saul inspecteth the people who are found with him, about six hundred men,

¹⁶ and Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who are found with them, are abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin, and the Philistines have encamped in Michmash.

¹⁷ And the destroyer goeth out from the camp of the Philistines -- three detachments; the one detachment turneth unto the way of Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;

¹⁸ and the one detachment turneth the way of Beth-Horon, and the one detachment turneth the way of the border which is looking on the valley of the Zeboim, toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ And an artificer is not found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, `Lest the Hebrews make sword or spear;'

²⁰ and all Israel go down to the Philistines, to sharpen each his ploughshare, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock;

²¹ and there hath been the file for mattocks, and for coulters, and for three-pronged rakes, and for the axes, and to set up the goads.

²² And it hath been, in the day of battle, that there hath not been found sword and spear in the hand of any of the people who `are' with Saul and with Jonathan -- and there is found to Saul and to Jonathan his son.

²³ And the station of the Philistines goeth out unto the passage of Michmash.

---

¹ Saul was ... years old when he became king; and he reigned two years over Israel.

² And Saul chose him three thousand men out of Israel: there were with Saul two thousand in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

³ And Jonathan smote the outpost of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

⁴ And all Israel heard say, Saul has smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and Israel also has become odious to the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ And the Philistines were assembled together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude; and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward from Beth-Aven.

⁶ And the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed); and the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in cliffs, and in strongholds, and in pits.

⁷ And the Hebrews went over the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. And Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

⁸ And he waited seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

⁹ And Saul said, Bring hither to me the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings. And he offered up the burnt-offering.

¹⁰ And it came to pass, as soon as he had ended offering up the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

¹¹ And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou didst not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were assembled at Michmash,

¹² I said, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to Jehovah; and I forced myself, and offered up the burnt-offering.

¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God which he commanded thee; for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom over Israel for ever.

¹⁴ But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah has sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah has appointed him ruler over his people; for thou hast not kept what Jehovah commanded thee.

¹⁵ And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were found with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were found with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin; and the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

¹⁷ And the ravagers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned the way of Ophrah, into the land of Shual;

¹⁸ and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and the other company turned the way to the district that looks over the ravine of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ Now there was no smith found throughout the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.

²⁰ And all Israel went down to the Philistines, every man to get his ploughshare, and his hoe, and his axe, and his sickle sharpened,

²¹ when the edges of the sickles, and the hoes, and the forks, and the axes were blunted; and to set the goads.

²² And it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan; but with Saul and with Jonathan his son there was found.

²³ And a garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

---

¹ Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

² Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

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 say that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.

⁶ When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, 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 yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

⁸ He stayed seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

⁹ Saul said, Bring here the burnt offering to me, and the peace-offerings. He offered the burnt offering.

¹⁰ It came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, 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 people were scattered from me, and that you didn't come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;

¹² therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of Yahweh: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.

¹³ Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you: for now would Yahweh have established your kingdom on Israel forever.

¹⁴ But now your kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh has sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.

¹⁵ Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

¹⁷ The spoilers 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 and 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.

¹⁹ Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

²⁰ but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle;

²¹ yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the plowshares, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads.

²² So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

²³ The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

---

¹ ***

² And Saul took for himself three thousand men of Israel, of whom he kept two thousand with him in Michmash and in the mountain of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah in the land of Benjamin: the rest of the people he sent back to their tents.

³ And Jonathan made an attack on the armed force of the Philistines stationed at Gibeah; and news was given to the Philistines that the Hebrews were turned against them. And Saul had a horn sounded through all the land,

⁴ And all Israel had the news that Saul had made an attack on the Philistines, and that Israel was bitterly hated by the Philistines. And the people came together after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ And the Philistines came together to make war on Israel, three thousand war-carriages and six thousand horsemen and an army of people like the sands of the sea in number: they came up and took up their position in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven.

⁶ When the men of Israel saw the danger they were in, (for the people were troubled,) they took cover in cracks in the hillsides and in the woods and in rocks and holes and hollows.

⁷ And a great number of the people had gone over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but Saul was still in Gilgal, and all the people went after him shaking in fear.

⁸ And he went on waiting there for seven days, the time fixed by Samuel: but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were starting to go away from him.

⁹ Then Saul said, Come here and give me the burned offering and the peace-offerings. And he made a burned offering to the Lord.

¹⁰ And when the burned offering was ended, Samuel came; and Saul went out to see him and to give him a blessing.

¹¹ And Samuel said, What have you done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were going away from me, and you had not come at the time which had been fixed, and the Philistines had come together at Michmash;

¹² I said, Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal, and I have made no prayer for help to the Lord: and so, forcing myself to do it, I made a burned offering.

¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, You have done a foolish thing: you have not kept the rules which the Lord your God gave you; it was the purpose of the Lord to make your authority over Israel safe for ever.

¹⁴ But now, your authority will not go on: the Lord, searching for a man who is pleasing to him in every way, has given him the place of ruler over his people, because you have not done what the Lord gave you orders to do.

¹⁵ Then Samuel went up from Gilgal and the rest of the people went up after Saul against the men of war, and they came from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin: and Saul took the number of the people who were with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ And Saul, with Jonathan his son and the people who were with them, was waiting in Geba in the land of Benjamin: but the tents of the Philistines were in Michmash.

¹⁷ And three bands of men came out from the Philistines to make an attack; one band went by the road which goes to Ophrah, into the land of Shual:

¹⁸ And another went in the direction of Beth-horon: and another went by the hill looking down on the valley of Zeboiim, in the direction of the waste land.

¹⁹ Now there was no iron-worker in all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, For fear the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears:

²⁰ But all the Israelites had to go to the Philistines to get their ploughs and blades and axes and hooks made sharp;

²¹ For they had instruments for putting an edge on their ploughs and blades and forks and axes, and for putting iron points on their ox-driving rods.

²² So on the day of the fight at Michmash, not a sword or a spear was to be seen in the hands of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan: only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

²³ And the armed force of the Philistines went out to the narrow way of Michmash.