1 Samuel

Philistine Threat

Saul became king and ruled over Israel.

Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with him in Michmash and the hills of Bethel, and a thousand with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul sent the rest of the people away, every man to his home.

Jonathan killed the Philistine governor in Geba, and the Philistines heard of this. Saul then blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”

And the news spread throughout Israel, “Saul has killed the Philistine governor, and now Israel is at war with them.” And they called everyone out to join Saul at Gilgal.

The Philistines gathered to fight with Israel—three thousand chariots, six thousand horse riders, and troops as many as the sand on the seashore. They went up and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

When the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble, they hid themselves in caves, in holes, in rocks, in tombs, and cisterns,

or crossed the fords of the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead.

Saul was still at Gilgal, and everyone with him was afraid. He waited seven days—the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, and the people began to disperse.

So Saul said: “Bring me the burnt and peace offerings as well.” Saul then offered the burnt offering.

Samuel Condemns Saul

He had just finished offering it when Samuel arrived. Saul greeted Samuel,

asking him this question: “What have you done?”Saul answered him: “When I saw the people beginning to disperse because you failed to arrive on time, and considering that the Philistines have mustered their forces at Michmash,

I said to myself, ‘The Philistines will launch their attack against me before I get the Lord’s blessings’; and so I decided to offer the burnt offerings.”

?Samuel told Saul: “You have done a foolish thing by not obeying the command of the Lord your God who would have established your rule forever.

But now your kingship will not last, for the Lord has chosen someone more pleasing to him and appointed a commander over his people because you have not done what the Lord commanded you.”

Samuel then left Gilgal and continued on his way. Meanwhile, the people went up from Gilgal with Saul to join the warriors at Gibeah, the city of Benjamin. Saul reviewed his men, who numbered some six hundred.

Saul and Jonathan

While Saul and his son Jonathan stayed with the men in Geba of Benjamin, the Philistines pitched camp in Michmash.

Raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three companies—one company turned to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;

the other to Beth-horon; and the third to the border overlooking the valley of Hyenas, toward the wilderness.

The Israelites had no smith anywhere in their land, for the Philistines did not want the Hebrews to make swords or spears.

To have their plowshare, hatchets, axes, or sickles sharpened, the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines

who would charge them two-thirds of a shekel for plowshares and mattocks and a third of a shekel for sharpening axes and setting goads.

And so, on the day of battle, the Israelites had neither sword nor spear. Only Saul and Jonathan had them.

Yet the Philistine raiders had moved on toward the pass of Michmash.