1 S aul era în vîrstă de treizeci de ani, cînd a ajuns împărat, şi a domnit doi ani peste Israel.

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

2 S aul şi -a ales trei mii de bărbaţi din Israel: două mii erau cu el la Micmaş şi pe muntele Betel, iar o mie erau cu Ionatan la Ghibea lui Beniamin. Pe ceilalţi din popor i -a trimes pe fiecare la cortul lui.

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 I onatan a bătut tabăra Filistenilor care era la Gheba, şi Filistenii au auzit lucrul acesta. Saul a pus să sune cu trîmbiţa prin toată ţara, zicînd:,, Să audă Evreii lucrul acesta!``

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

4 T ot Israelul a auzit zicîndu-se:,, Saul a bătut tabăra Filistenilor, şi Israel s'a făcut urît Filistenilor``. Şi poporul a fost adunat la Saul în Ghilgal.

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 F ilistenii s'au strîns să lupte cu Israel. Aveau o mie de cară şi şase mii de călăreţi; şi poporul acesta era fără număr: ca nisipul depe ţărmul mării. Au venit şi au tăbărît la Micmaş, la răsărit de Bet-Aven.

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 B ărbaţii lui Israel s'au văzut la strîmtoare, căci erau strînşi de aproape şi s'au ascuns în peşteri, în stufişuri, în stînci, în turnuri şi în gropile pentru apă.

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 U nii Evrei au trecut Iordanul, ca să se ducă în ţara lui Gad şi Galaad. Saul era tot la Ghilgal, şi tot poporul de lîngă el tremura.

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 A aşteptat sapte zile, după timpul hotărît de Samuel. Dar Samuel nu venea la Ghilgal, şi poporul se împrăştia de lîngă Saul.

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

9 A tunci Saul a zis:,, Aduceţi-mi arderea de tot şi jertfele de mulţămire.`` Şi a jertfit arderea de tot.

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

10 P e cînd sfîrşea de adus arderea de tot, a venit Samuel, şi Saul i -a ieşit înainte să -i ureze de bine.

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 S amuel a zis:,, Ce-ai făcut?`` Saul a răspuns:,, Cînd am văzut că poporul se împrăştie de lîngă mine, că nu vii la timpul hotărît, şi că Filistenii sînt strînşi la Micmaş,

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 m i-am zis: Filistenii se vor pogorî împotriva mea la Ghilgal, şi eu nu m'am rugat Domnului! Atunci am îndrăznit şi am adus arderea de tot.``

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 S amuel a zis lui Saul:,, Ai lucrat ca un nebun şi n'ai păzit porunca pe care ţi -o dăduse Domnul, Dumnezeul tău. Domnul ar fi întărit pe vecie domnia ta peste Israel;

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 d ar acum, domnia ta nu va dăinui. Domnul Şi -a ales un om după inima Lui, şi Domnul l -a rînduit să fie căpetenia poporului Său, pentrucă n'ai păzit ce-ţi poruncise Domnul.``

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 A poi Samuel s'a sculat, şi s'a suit din Ghilgal la Ghibea lui Beniamin. Saul a făcut numărătoarea poporului care se afla cu el: erau aproape şase sute de oameni.

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 S aul, fiul său Ionatan, şi poporul care se afla cu ei, se aşezaseră la Gheba lui Beniamin, şi Filistenii tăbărau la Micmaş.

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 D in tabăra Filistenilor au ieşit trei cete ca să pustiască: una a luat drumul spre Ofra, spre ţara Şual;

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 a lta a luat drumul spre Bet-Horon; şi a treia a luat drumul spre hotarul care caută spre valea Ţeboim, înspre pustie.``

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 Î n toată ţara lui Israel nu se găsea niciun fierar; căci Filistenii ziseră:,, Să împedecăm pe Evrei să-şi facă săbii sau suliţe.``

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

20 Ş i fiecare om din Israel se pogora la Filisteni ca să-şi ascută fierul plugului, coasa, securea şi sapa,

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 c înd se tocea sapa, coasa, furca cu trei coarne şi securea, şi ca să facă vîrf ţepuşului cu care mîna boii.

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

22 Ş i aşa s'a întîmplat că în ziua luptei nu era nici sabie, nici suliţă în mînile întregului popor care era cu Saul şi Ionatan: nu avea decît Saul şi fiul său Ionatan.

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 O ceată de Filisteni a venit şi s'a aşezat la trecătoarea Micmaşului.

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