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 became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.

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.

Saul chose for himself 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. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward 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 trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, 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.

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

He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn’t 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.

Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings.” 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.

It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might 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.

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 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 on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, 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 done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on 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 will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself 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 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

Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. 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.

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

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 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.

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 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 there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves 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.

but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his own plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle.

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 price was one payim each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads.

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 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 Saul and with Jonathan his son had them.

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

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