1 Samuel, Chapter 13:

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Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 13 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.

1 Samuel - Old Testament — 1 Samuel – Old Testament

Samuel rebukes Saul

1. Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned over Israel for forty-two years.
2. Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand remained with him in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand remained with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The remaining men were sent back to their tents.
3. Jonathan attacked the Philistine troops at Gibeah, and the Philistines were informed of this. Then Saul ordered the trumpet to be blown throughout the country, saying, “Let the Hebrews know about this!”
4. And all Israel heard the news that Saul had attacked the Philistine troops, bringing the wrath of the Philistines upon Israel. Then the men were summoned to join Saul in Gilgal.
5. The Philistines gathered to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand chariot drivers, and as many soldiers as there were grains of sand on the seashore. They camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. Saul remained in Gilgal, and the soldiers who were with him trembled with fear.
6. When the soldiers of Israel saw that the situation was difficult and that their army was being pressured, they hid in caves, rock crevices, wells and cisterns.
7. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to reach the land of Gad and Gilead.
8. Saul waited seven days, according to the deadline set by Samuel. However, Samuel did not reach Gilgal, and Saul's soldiers began to scatter.
9. Then Saul ordered, “Bring me the burnt offering and the communion sacrifices.” Saul offered the burnt offering;
10. When he finished offering it, Samuel arrived, and Saul went to greet him.
11. Samuel asked, “What did you do?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the soldiers were scattering and that you had not arrived within the appointed time, and that the Philistines were gathered at Michmash,
12. I thought: Now the Philistines will attack me in Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord. Therefore, I felt compelled to offer the holocaust.”
13. Samuel said, “You acted foolishly, disobeying the commandment that the Lord your God gave you. If you had obeyed, the Lord would have established his kingdom over Israel forever.
14. But now his reign will not last; the Lord chose a man after His own heart and appointed him as leader of His people, because you did not obey the commandment of the Lord.”

Israel without weapons

15. Then Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah of Benjamin, and Saul counted the number of soldiers who were with him. There were about six hundred.
16. Saul and his son Jonathan, accompanied by their soldiers, remained in Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Michmash.
17. An attacking force left the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed towards Ofra, on the outskirts of Sual,
18. another division headed towards Beth-Horon, and the third division headed towards the border region where the valley of Zeboiim can be seen, opposite the desert.
19. At that time there was not even a single blacksmith in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines did not allow the Hebrews to make swords and spears.
20. So they had to go to the Philistines to sharpen their hoes, sickles, axes and plows.
21. The price for sharpening a hoe or a plow was eight grams of silver, and four grams of silver for sharpening sickles, axes, and goad tips.
22. On the day of the battle, none of Saul and Jonathan's soldiers had swords or spears, except Saul and his son Jonathan.
23. A Philistine detachment advanced to the pass of Michmash.