Saul's son Jonathan attacks a Philistine garrison, and the Philistines gather in force. Saul, impatient at Samuel's delay, offers the sacrifice himself, and Samuel tells him his kingdom will not last.
1 Saul reigned one year ; and when he had reigned two years over Israel ,
2 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 And Saul said , Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings . And he offered the burnt offering .
10 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash .