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[1]Saul now had been king one year, and he reigned two years over Israel.
[2]Then Saul chose him three thousand of Israel: and two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every one to his tent.
[3]And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines, that was in the hill: and it came to the Philistines' ears: and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Hear, O ye Hebrews.
[4]And all Israel heard say, Saul hath destroyed a garrison of the Philistines: wherefore Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines: and the people gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
[5]The Philistines also gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen: for the people was like the sand which is by the sea's side in multitude, and came up, and pitched in Michmash eastward from Beth-aven.
[6]And when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait ( for the people were in distress) the people hid themselves in caves, and in holds, and in rocks, and in towers, and in pits.
[7]And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan unto the land of Gad and Gilead: and Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people for fear followed him.
[8]And he tarried seven days, according unto the time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal, therefore the people were scattered from him.
[9]And Saul said, Bring a burnt offering to me and peace offerings: and he offered a burnt offering.
[10]And as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came: and Saul went forth to meet him, to salute him.
[11]And Samuel said, What hast thou done? Then Saul said, Because I saw that the people was scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to 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 was bold 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 the Lord had now stablished thy kingdom upon Israel forever.
[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 governor over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord had commanded thee.
[15]And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal in 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, had their abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines pitched in Michmash.
[17]And there came out of the host of the Philistines three bands to destroy, one band turned unto the way of Ophrah unto the land of Shual,
[18]And another band turned toward the way to Beth-horon, and the third band turned toward the way of the coast that looketh toward the valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness.
[19]Then there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.
[20]Wherefore all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, his mattock, and his ax, and his weeding hook.
[21]Yet they had a file for the shares, and for the mattocks, and for the pick forks, and for the axes, and for to sharpen the goads.
[22]So when the day of battle was come, there was neither sword nor spear found in the hands of any of the people that were with Saul and with Jonathan: but only with Saul and Jonathan his son was there found.
[23]And the garrison of the Philistines came out to the passage of Michmash.
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