1 Samuel 13:1-9 ▼

1 Saul was ruling for less than a year, when he ruled during year two 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 Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

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.|

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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