1 Samuel 13

1Saul wasfortyyears old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

1Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled over Israel for forty-two years.

2Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

2Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand stayed with him at Michmash and in the hills of Bethel, while one thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent the rest of the men home to their own tents.

3And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

3Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had trumpets blown throughout the whole land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

4And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.

4All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine outpost and that the Philistines now hated Israel. So the people were called to join Saul at Gilgal.

5And the Philistines assembled themselves 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 of Beth-aven.

5The Philistines gathered to fight Israel with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand chariot drivers, and so many soldiers they were like the sand on the seashore. They went up and set up camp at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits.

6When the Israelite men saw they were in deep trouble and that their army was hard-pressed, they hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, in holes, and in pits.

7Now 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.

7Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul stayed at Gilgal, but all the soldiers with him were shaking with fear.

8And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

8He waited seven days, the time Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. Saul’s men began to slip away and scatter.

9And Saul said, Bring hither the burnt-offering to me, and the peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering.

9So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering himself.

10And it came to pass that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

10Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and welcome him.

11And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;

11Samuel asked, "What have you done?" Saul replied, "I saw the men scattering, and you didn't come when you said you would. Meanwhile, the Philistines were gathering at Michmash.

12therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Jehovah: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering.

12I thought, ‘The Philistines will come down to attack me at Gilgal, and I haven't asked for the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt forced to offer the burnt offering myself."

13And 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 upon Israel for ever.

13Samuel said to Saul, "You have done a foolish thing. You did not keep the command the LORD your God gave you. If you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

14But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah hath appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.

14But now your kingdom will not last. The LORD has searched for a man who follows his own heart. The LORD has appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you did not obey the LORD’s command."

15And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

15Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted the men who were still with him, and there were about six hundred.

16And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

16Saul, his son Jonathan, and the men with them stayed in Geba in Benjamin, while the Philistines remained camped at Michmash.

17And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;

17Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three groups. One group turned toward Ophrah in the land of Shual.

18and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

18Another group turned toward Beth-horon, and the third group turned toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim near the desert.

19Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

19No blacksmith could be found in the entire land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears!"

20but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock;

20Instead, all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to get their plowshares, picks, axes, and sickles sharpened.

21yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads.

21The price was a fraction of an ounce of silver for sharpening plowshares and picks, and a smaller amount for pitchforks, axes, and for sharpening ox goads.

22So 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 was there found.

22So on the day of the battle, not a single soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or a spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

23And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.

23Now a group of Philistine soldiers had gone out to the mountain pass at Michmash.