1 Samuel 13

1 Saul was ruling for less than a year, when he ruled during year two over Israel,

Saul was a child of one year when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel.

2 that Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the people he sent away, each to his own home.

And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel: and two thousand were with Saul in Machmas, and in mount Bethel: and a thousand with Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin, and the rest of the people he sent back every man to their dwellings.

3 Now Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was at Gibeah, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines which was in Gabaa. And when the Philistines had heard of it, Saul sounded the trumpet over all the land, saying: Let the Hebrews hear.

4 All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become repulsive to the Philistines. So the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

And all Israel heard this report: Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines: and Israel took courage against the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Galgal.

5 The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, and brought up against Israel three thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude: and they came up, and camped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.

The Philistines also were assembled to fight against Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and a multitude of people besides, like the sand on the sea shore for number. And going up they camped in Machmas at the east of Bethaven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were in a difficult situation), then the people hid themselves in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.

And when the men of Israel saw that they were straitened, (for the people were distressed, ) they hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in dens, and in pits.

7 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.

And some of the Hebrews passed over the Jordan into the land of Gad and Galaad. And when Saul was yet in Galgal, all the people that followed him were greatly afraid.

8 And he stayed seven days, according to the time that Samuel had said. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to abandon him.

And he waited seven days according to the appointment of Samuel, I and Samuel came not to Galgal, and the people slipt away from him.

9 Saul said, "Bring here the burnt offering to me, and the peace offerings." He offered the burnt offering.

Then Saul said: Bring me the holocaust, and the peace offerings. And he offered the holocaust.

10 It came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, look, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.

And when he had made an end of offering the holocaust, behold Samuel came: and Saul went forth to meet him and salute him.

11 Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;

And Samuel said to him: What hast thou done? Saul answered: Because I saw that the people slipt from me, and thou wast not come according to the days appointed, and the Philistines were gathered together in Machmas,

12 therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of YHWH.' I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering."

I said: Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Galgal, and I have not appeased the face of the Lord. Forced by necessity, I offered the holocaust.

13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of YHWH your God, which he commanded you; for now YHWH would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.

And Samuel said to Saul: Thou hast done foolishly, and hast not kept the commandments of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. And if thou hadst not done thus, the Lord would now have established thy kingdom over Israel for ever.

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. YHWH has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and YHWH has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which YHWH commanded you."

But thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man according to his own heart: and him hath the Lord commanded to be prince over his people, because thou hast not observed that which the Lord commanded.

15 And Samuel arose and departed from Gilgal, and the rest of the people went up after Saul to meet him after the men of war, when they had come up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

And Samuel arose and went up from Galgal to Gabaa of Benjamin. And the rest of the people went up after Saul, to meet the people who fought against them, going from Galgal to Gabaa in the hill of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people, that were found with him, about six hundred men.

16 Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines camped in Michmash.

And Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, were in Gabaa of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Machmas.

17 The spoilers 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;

And there went out of the camp of the Philistines three companies to plunder. One company went towards the way of Ephra to the land of Sual;

18 and another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned toward the border that overlooks the valley of Zeboim.

And another went by the way of Beth-horon, and the third turned to the way of the border, above the valley of Seboim towards the desert.

19 Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears."

Now there was no smith to be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had taken this precaution, lest the Hebrews should make them swords or spears.

20 But all Israel would go down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle;

So all Israel went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his ploughshare, and his spade, and his axe, and his rake.

21 and the charge was one payim for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and three shekels for picks and axes and to set the goads.

So that their shares, and their spades, and their forks, and their axes were blunt, even to the goad, which was to be mended.

22 So on the day of the battle of Michmash there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

And when the day of battle was come, there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan, except Saul and Jonathan his son.

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

And the army of the Philistines went out in order to advance further in Machmas.