1 Samuel 13:13-23 ▼

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the commandment of YHWH your God, which He commanded you. For now YHWH would have established your kingdom over Israel even to forever.

14 And your kingdom shall not continue, for YHWH Himself has sought a man after His own heart, and YHWH has commanded him to be ruler over His people, because you have not kept what YHWH commanded you.”

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

16 And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people present with them remained in Geba of Benjamin. And the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17 And the destroyer went out from the camp of the Philistines—three companies. One company turned to the way of Ophrah, to the land of Shual.

18 And one company turned to the way of Beth-Horon. And one company turned to the way of the border which is looking on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 And there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.”

20 And all Israel would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man his plowshare, and his mattock, and his ax, and his sickle.

21 And the charge was a pim for the plowshares and the mattocks, and for a third of a shekel the forks and the axes, and to set the points of the goads.

22 And it came to pass on the day of battle that there was found not a sword or spear in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. And one was found for Saul and for Jonathan his son.

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