War with the Philistines

1Saul (desired) was thirty years old [Saul was a son of a year]a when he became king, and he reigned over Israel (he wrestles with God) forty-two years (over Israel forty years).b 2He (desired) chose for himself three thousand men of Israel (he wrestles with God): Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash (hidden) and in the hill country of Bethel (house of God), and a thousand were with Jonathan (YHWH has given) in Gibeah (hill) of Benjamin (son of the right hand). And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.

3Then Jonathan (YHWH has given) attacked the Philistine (immigrants) outpost at Geba (hill), and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul (desired) blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews (those from beyond) hear!”

4And all Israel (he wrestles with God) heard the news: “Saul (desired) has attacked an outpost of the Philistines (immigrants), and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal (a wheel).

5Now the Philistines (immigrants) assembled to fight against Israel (he wrestles with God) with three thousand [thirty thousand]c chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash (hidden), east of Beth-aven (house of wickedness).

6Seeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns. 7Some Hebrews (those from beyond) even crossed the Jordan (flowing down) into the land of Gad (troop) and Gilead (rocky region). Saul, however (desired), remained at Gilgal (a wheel), and all his troops were quaking in fear.

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice

8And Saul waited seven days for the time appointed by Samuel (his name is El), but Samuel did not come to Gilgal (a wheel), and the troops began to desert Saul. 9So he (desired) said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered up the burnt offering.

10Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel (his name is El) arrived, and Saul (desired) went out to greet him.

11“What have you done?” Samuel (his name is El) asked.

And Saul (desired) replied, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me, and that you did not come at the appointed time and the Philistines (immigrants) were gathering at Michmash (hidden), 12I thought, ‘Now the Philistines (immigrants) will descend upon me at Gilgal (a wheel), and I have not sought the favor of the LORD {YHWH}.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

13“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel (his name is El) declared (desired). “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel (he wrestles with God) for all time. 14But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD {YHWH} has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

15Then Samuel (his name is El) set out from Gilgal (a wheel) and went up to Gibeah (hill) in Benjamin.d And Saul (desired) numbered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

Israel without Weapons

16Now Saul (desired) and Jonathan (YHWH has given) his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba (hill) of Benjamin (son of the right hand), while the Philistines (immigrants) camped at Michmash (hidden). 17And raiders went out of the Philistine (immigrants) camp in three divisions. One headed toward Ophrah (fawn) in the land of Shual (jackal), 18another toward Beth-horon (house of hollowness), and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim (speckled) facing the wilderness.

19And no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel (he wrestles with God), because the Philistines (immigrants) had said, “The Hebrews (those from beyond) must not be allowed to make swords or spears.” 20Instead, all the Israelites (God prevails) would go down to the Philistines (immigrants) to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles [and plowshares].e 21The charge was a pim <0.25 oz / 7 g>f for sharpening a plowshare or mattock, a third of a shekel for sharpening a pitchfork or an axe, and a third of a shekel for repointing an oxgoad.g

22So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hands of the troops with Saul (desired) and Jonathan (YHWH has given); only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.

23And a garrison of the Philistines (immigrants) had gone out to the pass at Michmash (hidden).