1Saul now had been King one year, and he reigned two years over Israel.
2Then Saul chose him three thousand of Israel: and two thousand were with Saul 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 one to his tent.
3And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Phi-listines, that was in the hill: and it came to the Phi-listines’ ears: and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Hear, O ye Hebrews.
4And 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.
5The 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 seaside in multitude, and came up, and pitched in Michmash Eastward from Beth Aven.
6And 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.
7And 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.
8And 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.
9And Saul said, Bring a burnt offering to me and peace offerings: and he offered a burnt offering.
10And 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.
11And 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,
12Therefore 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.
13And 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.
14But 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.
15And Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal in Gibeah of Benjamin: and Saul numbered the people that were found with him, about six hundred men.
16And 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.
17And 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,
18And 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.
19Then there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.
20Wherefore, all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, his mattock, and his axe, and his weeding hook.
21Yet 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.
22So 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.
23And the garrison of the Philistines came out to the passage of Michmash.