1 S aul was forty years old when he began to rule. He ruled over Israel thirty-two years.

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

2 S aul chose 3, 000 men of Israel. There were 2, 000 of them with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel. And 1, 000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.

Now Saul chose for himself 3, 000 men of Israel, of which 2, 000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1, 000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.

3 J onathan destroyed the place where the Philistine soldiers were in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul sounded the horn through all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”

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

4 A ll Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the place where the Philistine soldiers were. And they heard that Israel had become a hated thing to the Philistines. Then the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.

5 T he Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, with 30, 000 war-wagons, 6, 000 horsemen, and people like the sand on the sea shore. They came and set up their tents at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30, 000 chariots and 6, 000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6 T he men of Israel saw that they were in trouble. The people were in a place of danger. So the people hid themselves in caves, bushes, hill-sides, graves and wells.

When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.

7 S ome of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him in fear.

Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 S aul waited seven days, the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And the people were leaving him.

Now he 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.

9 S o Saul said, “Bring me the burnt gift and the peace gifts.” And he gave the burnt gift to the Lord.

So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

10 A s soon as he finished giving the burnt gift, Samuel came. Saul went out to meet him and say hello.

As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.

11 B ut Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “I saw that the people were leaving me. You did not come when you said you would. And the Philistines were gathering at Michmash.

But 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 the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,

12 S o I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the Lord’s favor.’ So I made myself give the burnt gift.”

therefore 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.”

13 S amuel said to Saul, “You have done a foolish act. You have not kept the Law that the Lord your God gave you. For now the Lord would have made your rule over Israel last forever.

Samuel said to Saul, “ You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

14 B ut now your rule will not last. The Lord has found a man who is pleasing to him in every way. He has chosen him to rule over his people, because you have not obeyed the Lord.”

But now your kingdom shall not endure. The 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.”

15 T hen Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people that were left with him, about 600 men. No Swords or Spears

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

16 S aul and his son Jonathan, and the people with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines stayed at Michmash.

Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash.

17 S oldiers came from the tents of the Philistines in three groups. One group turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual.

And the raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual,

18 A nother group turned toward Bethhoron. And another group turned toward the side of the country that looks over the valley of Zeboim toward the desert.

and another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another company turned toward the border which overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 N ow there was no one to be found in all the land of Israel who made things of iron. For the Philistines said, “The Hebrews might make swords or spears.”

Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”

20 S o each one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get his plow, his pick, his ax, or his grain cutter sharpened.

So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe.

21 H e had to pay two-thirds part of a piece of silver to have the plows and picks sharpened, and one-third part of a piece of silver to have the axes and grain cutters sharpened.

The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to fix the hoes.

22 S o on the day of battle there was no sword or spear in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan.

23 A nd the Philistine soldiers went out to the pass of Michmash.

And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.