1Samuel:13

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* Saul reigned one year ; and when he had reigned two years over Israel , * Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel . Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel , and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin . The rest of the people he sent away , every man to his tent . * And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba , and the Philistines heard of it . Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land , saying , "Let the Hebrews hear !" * Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines , and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines . And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal . * Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel , thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen , and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude . And they came up and encamped in Michmash , to the east of Beth Aven . * When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed ), then the people hid in caves , in thickets , in rocks , in holes , and in pits . * And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead . As for Saul , he was still in Gilgal , and all the people followed him trembling . * Then he waited seven days , according to the time set by Samuel . But Samuel did not come to Gilgal ; and the people were scattered from him . * So Saul said , "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me ." And he offered the burnt offering . * Now it happened , as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering , that Samuel came ; and Saul went out to meet him , that he might greet him . * And Samuel said , "What have you done ?" Saul said , "When I saw that the people were scattered from me , and that you did not come within the days appointed , and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash , * then I said , "The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal , and I have not made supplication to the LORD .' Therefore I felt compelled , and offered a burnt offering ." * And Samuel said to Saul , "You have done foolishly . You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God , which He commanded you . For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever . * But now your kingdom shall not continue . The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart , and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people , because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you ." * Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin . And Saul numbered the people present with him , about six hundred men . * Saul , Jonathan his son , and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin . But the Philistines encamped in Michmash . * Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies . One company turned onto the road to Ophrah , to the land of Shual , * another company turned to the road to Beth Horon , and another company turned to the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness . * Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel , for the Philistines said , "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears ." * But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man 's plowshare , his mattock , his ax , and his sickle ; * and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares , the mattocks , the forks , and the axes , and to set the points of the goads . * So it came about , on the day of battle , that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan . But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son . * And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash .

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