1 Saul{H7586} reigned{H4427}{(H8800)} one year{H1121}{H8141}; and when he had reigned{H4427}{(H8804)} two{H8147} years{H8141} over Israel{H3478},

2 Saul{H7586} chose{H977}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8765)} every man{H376} to his tent{H168}.

3 And Jonathan{H3129} smote{H5221}{(H8686)} the garrison{H5333} of the Philistines{H6430} that was in Geba{H1387}, and the Philistines{H6430} heard{H8085}{(H8799)} of it. And Saul{H7586} blew{H8628}{(H8804)} the trumpet{H7782} throughout all the land{H776}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Let the Hebrews{H5680} hear{H8085}{(H8799)}.

4 And all Israel{H3478} heard{H8085}{(H8804)} say{H559}{(H8800)} that Saul{H7586} had smitten{H5221}{(H8689)} a garrison{H5333} of the Philistines{H6430}, and that Israel{H3478} also was had in abomination{H887}{(H8738)} with the Philistines{H6430}. And the people{H5971} were called together{H6817}{(H8735)} after{H310} Saul{H7586} to Gilgal{H1537}.

5 And the Philistines{H6430} gathered themselves together{H622}{(H8738)} to fight{H3898}{(H8736)} 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}{(H8799)}, and pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} in Michmash{H4363}, eastward{H6926} from Bethaven{H1007}.

6 When the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} saw{H7200}{(H8804)} that they were in a strait{H6887}{(H8804)},(for the people{H5971} were distressed{H5065}{(H8738)},) then the people{H5971} did hide{H2244}{(H8691)} 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}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8804)}.

8 And he tarried{H3176}{(H8686)}{(H8675)}{H3176}{(H8735)} seven{H7651} days{H3117}, according to the set time{H4150} that Samuel{H8050} had appointed: but Samuel{H8050} came{H935}{(H8804)} not to Gilgal{H1537}; and the people{H5971} were scattered{H6327}{(H8686)} from him.

9 And Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Bring hither{H5066}{(H8685)} a burnt offering{H5930} to me, and peace offerings{H8002}. And he offered{H5927}{(H8686)} the burnt offering{H5930}.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end{H3615}{(H8763)} of offering{H5927}{(H8687)} the burnt offering{H5930}, behold, Samuel{H8050} came{H935}{(H8802)}; and Saul{H7586} went out{H3318}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} him, that he might salute{H1288}{(H8800)} him.

11 And Samuel{H8050} said{H559}{(H8799)}, What hast thou done{H6213}{(H8804)}? And Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Because I saw{H7200}{(H8804)} that the people{H5971} were scattered{H5310}{(H8804)} from me, and that thou camest{H935}{(H8804)} not within the days{H3117} appointed{H4150}, and that the Philistines{H6430} gathered themselves together{H622}{(H8737)} at Michmash{H4363};

12 Therefore said{H559}{(H8799)} I, The Philistines{H6430} will come down{H3381}{(H8799)} now upon me to Gilgal{H1537}, and I have not made supplication{H2470}{(H8765)} unto{H6440} the LORD{H3068}: I forced{H662}{(H8691)} myself therefore, and offered{H5927}{(H8686)} a burnt offering{H5930}.

13 And Samuel{H8050} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Saul{H7586}, Thou hast done foolishly{H5528}{(H8738)}: thou hast not kept{H8104}{(H8804)} the commandment{H4687} of the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}, which he commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} thee: for now would the LORD{H3068} have established{H3559}{(H8689)} thy kingdom{H4467} upon Israel{H3478} for{H5704} ever{H5769}.

14 But now thy kingdom{H4467} shall not continue{H6965}{(H8799)}: the LORD{H3068} hath sought{H1245}{(H8765)} him a man{H376} after his own heart{H3824}, and the LORD{H3068} hath commanded{H6680}{(H8762)} him to be captain{H5057} over his people{H5971}, because thou hast not kept{H8104}{(H8804)} that which the LORD{H3068} commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} thee.

15 And Samuel{H8050} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and gat him up{H5927}{(H8799)} from Gilgal{H1537} unto Gibeah{H1390} of Benjamin{H1144}. And Saul{H7586} numbered{H6485}{(H8799)} the people{H5971} that were present{H4672}{(H8737)} 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}{(H8737)} with them, abode{H3427}{(H8802)} in Gibeah{H1387} of Benjamin{H1144}: but the Philistines{H6430} encamped{H2583}{(H8804)} in Michmash{H4363}.

17 And the spoilers{H7843}{(H8688)} came out{H3318}{(H8799)} of the camp{H4264} of the Philistines{H6430} in three{H7969} companies{H7218}: one{H259} company{H7218} turned{H6437}{(H8799)} unto the way{H1870} that leadeth to Ophrah{H6084}, unto the land{H776} of Shual{H7777}:

18 And another{H259} company{H7218} turned{H6437}{(H8799)} the way{H1870} to Bethhoron{H1032}: and another{H259} company{H7218} turned{H6437}{(H8799)} to the way{H1870} of the border{H1366} that looketh{H8259}{(H8737)} to the valley{H1516} of Zeboim{H6650} toward the wilderness{H4057}.

19 Now there was no smith{H2796} found{H4672}{(H8735)} throughout all the land{H776} of Israel{H3478}: for the Philistines{H6430} said{H559}{(H8804)}, Lest the Hebrews{H5680} make{H6213}{(H8799)} them swords{H2719} or spears{H2595}:

20 But all the Israelites{H3478} went down{H3381}{(H8799)} to the Philistines{H6430}, to sharpen{H3913}{(H8800)} 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}{(H8687)} 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}{(H8738)} 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}{(H8735)}.

23 And the garrison{H4673} of the Philistines{H6430} went out{H3318}{(H8799)} to the passage{H4569} of Michmash{H4363}.