131 Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign , and he reigned forty two years over Israel . 2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 e 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 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 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 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel , 30,000 e chariots and 6,000 e horsemen , and people like the sand which is on the seashore e in abundance ; and they came up and camped in Michmash , east of Beth-aven . 6 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 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 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 So Saul said , "Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings ." And he offered the burnt offering . 10 As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering , behold , Samuel came ; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. 11 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 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 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 e . 14 "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 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 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 And the raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three companies : one company turned toward e Ophrah , to the land of Shual , 18 and another company turned toward Beth-horon , and another company turned toward the border which overlooks e the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness . 19 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 So all Israel went down to the Philistines , each to sharpen his plowshare , his mattock , his axe , and his hoe . 21 The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares , the mattocks , the forks e , and the axes , and to fix the hoes . 22 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 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash .
