1 Saul was [about] a year into his reign when he became king, and he ruled over Israel for two years.

Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

2 Saul chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself. 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash and in the hills of Bethel, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent back to their homes.

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

3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul blew the ram's horn throughout the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

And 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.

4 All Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and now Israel has become offensive to the Philistines." So the people were summoned to follow Saul at Gilgal.

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

5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.

And the Philistines gathered 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 pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a difficult situation and that the enemy was pressing them hard, they hid themselves in caves, thickets, rocks, pits, and cisterns.

When 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 high places, and in pits.

7 Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people with him trembled in fear.

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people started to scatter from Saul.

And 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.

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

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

10 Just as he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Samuel came. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.

And 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.

11 Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul answered, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,

And 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 gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering."

Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, which He gave you. If you had, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now your kingdom will not endure. The Lord has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him leader over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."

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

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

And 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.

16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them stayed in Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.

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

17 Then a raiding party went out from the camp of the Philistines in three divisions. One division turned toward Ophrah, in the land of Shual;

And 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:

18 another division turned toward Beth Horon; and the third division turned toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness.

And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 No blacksmith could be found throughout the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines said, 'Otherwise, the Hebrews might make swords or spears.'

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

20 So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to sharpen each person's plowshare, mattock, axe, or sickle.

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

21 The price for sharpening plowshares, mattocks, pitchforks, and axes, or for setting goads, was two-thirds of a shekel.

Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

22 So on the day of the battle, no sword or spear was found in the hands of the entire army with Saul and Jonathan, except for Saul and his son Jonathan themselves.

So 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.

23 A Philistine garrison advanced to the pass at Michmash.

And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.