1 Samuel 13:8-23 ▼

8 And he waited seven days, for the time appointed by Samuel, and Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, “Bring here to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings,” and he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, as he finished offering the burnt offering, that Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him to bless him.

11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and you did not come within the appointed days, and the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,

12 then I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and to YHWH I have not made supplication.’ And I forced myself and I offered the burnt offering.”

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.