Saul disobeys the Lord, and the Lord rejects him as king

1Saul was a young man13.1 a young man: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text; several manuscripts of one ancient translation have “thirty years old”. when he became king, and he ruled Israel for two years. 2Then13.1,2 for…Then: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. he chose three thousand men from Israel to be full-time soldiers and sent everyone else13.2 everyone else: People who were not full-time soldiers, but fought together with the army when the nation was in danger. home. Two thousand of these troops stayed with him in the hills around Michmash and Bethel. The other thousand were stationed with Jonathan13.2 Jonathan: Saul's son (see verse 16). at Gibeah13.2 Michmash…Bethel…Gibeah: These three towns form a triangle, with Bethel to the north. in the territory of Benjamin.

3Jonathan led an attack on the Philistine army camp at Geba.13.3 Geba: Geba was between Gibeah and Michmash. The Philistine camp was destroyed, but13.3 led an attack…destroyed, but: Or “killed the Philistine military governor who lived at Geba, and…” the other Philistines heard what had happened. Then Saul told his messengers, “Go to every village in the country. Give a signal with the trumpet, and when the people come together, tell them what has happened.”

4The messengers then said to the people of Israel, “Saul has destroyed the Philistine army camp at Geba.13.4 destroyed…Geba: Or “killed the Philistine military governor who lived at Geba”. Now the Philistines really hate Israel, so every town and village must send men to join Saul's army at Gilgal.”

5The Philistines called their army together to fight Israel. They had three thousand13.5 three thousand: Some ancient translations; Hebrew “thirty thousand”. chariots, six thousand cavalry, and as many foot soldiers as there are grains of sand on the beach. They went to Michmash and set up camp there east of Beth-Aven.13.5 Beth-Aven: This Beth-Aven was probably about one and a half kilometres south-west of Michmash, between Michmash and Geba.

6The Israelite army realized that they were outnumbered and were going to lose the battle. Some of the Israelite men hid in caves or in clumps of bushes,13.6 in…bushes: Or “in cracks in the rocks”. and some ran to places where they could hide among large rocks. Others hid in tombs13.6 tombs: The Hebrew word may mean a room cut into solid rock and used as a burial place, or it may mean a cellar. or in deep dry pits. 7Still others13.7 Still others: This translates a Hebrew word which may be used of wandering groups of people who sometimes became outlaws or hired soldiers (see also 14.21). went to Gad and Gilead on the other side of the River Jordan.

Saul stayed at Gilgal. His soldiers were shaking with fear, 8and they were starting to run off and leave him. Saul waited there seven days, just as Samuel had ordered him to do,13.8 Samuel…to do: See 10.8. but Samuel did not come.13.8: 1 S 10.8. 9Finally, Saul commanded, “Bring me some animals, so we can offer sacrifices to please the LORD and ask for his help.”

Saul killed one of the animals, 10and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to welcome him.

11“What have you done?” Samuel asked.

Saul answered, “My soldiers were leaving in all directions, and you didn't come when you were supposed to. The Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 12and I was worried that they would attack me here at Gilgal. I hadn't offered a sacrifice to ask for the LORD's help, so I forced myself to offer a sacrifice on the altar fire.”

13“That was stupid!” Samuel said. “You didn't obey the LORD your God. If you had obeyed him, someone from your family would always have been king of Israel. 14But no, you disobeyed, and so the LORD won't choose anyone else from your family to be king. In fact, he has already chosen the one he wants to be the next leader of his people.”13.14: Ac 13.22. 15Then Samuel left Gilgal.

Part of Saul's army had not deserted him, and he led them to Gibeah in Benjamin to join his other troops. Then he counted them13.15 Then Samuel…counted them: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “Then Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted his army”. and found that he still had six hundred men. 16Saul, Jonathan, and their army set up camp at Geba in Benjamin.

Jonathan attacks the Philistines

The Philistine army was camped at Michmash. 17Each day they sent out patrols to attack and rob villages and then destroy them. One patrol would go north along the road to Ophrah in the region of Shual. 18Another patrol would go west along the road to Beth-Horon. A third patrol would go east towards the desert on the road to the ridge that overlooks Zeboim Valley.

19The Philistines would not allow any Israelites to learn how to make iron tools. “If we allowed that,” they said, “those worthless Israelites would make swords and spears.”

20-21Whenever the Israelites wanted to get an iron point put on a cattle prod,13.20,21 cattle prod: A pole used to poke cattle and make them move. they had to go to the Philistines. Even if they wanted to sharpen plough-blades, picks, axes, sickles,13.20,21 sickles: One ancient translation; Hebrew “plough-blades”. and pitchforks13.20,21 pitchforks: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. they still had to go to them. And the Philistines charged high prices. 22So, whenever the Israelite soldiers had to go into battle, none of them had a sword or a spear except Saul and his son Jonathan. 23The Philistines moved their camp to the pass at Michmash,