1 Samuel 13

All 23 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Saul reigned for one year; and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,
2. 2Saul handpicked 3,000 soldiers from Israel. He kept 2,000 with him at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and stationed 1,000 with his son Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent the rest of the army home.
3. 3Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear."
4. 4And all Israel heard that Saul had struck down a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel was now detested by the Philistines. So the people were called to join Saul at Gilgal.
5. 5The Philistines gathered to fight Israel with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and set up camp at Michmash, east of Beth Aven.
6. 6When the men of Israel saw that they were in a difficult situation, for the people were distressed, they hid themselves in caves, in thickets, among the rocks, in high places, and in pits.
7. 7Some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people with him followed trembling.
8. 8Saul waited seven days, the time Samuel had appointed, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to scatter from him.
9. 9So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering himself.
10. 10The moment he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet him.
11. 11Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul answered, "I saw the troops scattering, and you hadn't come by the appointed time, and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash."
12. 12I thought, 'The Philistines will come down upon me here at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.
13. 13Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You did not keep the commandment of the LORD your God, which He gave you. If you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever."
14. 14But now your kingdom will not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be captain over his people, because you did not keep what the LORD commanded you.
15. 15Samuel got up and left Gilgal, heading to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the soldiers still with him — only about 600 men.
16. 16Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who remained with them stayed at Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines held their camp at Michmash.
17. 17Raiding parties came out of the Philistine camp in three groups. One group went toward Ophrah in the land of Shual.
18. 18A second group turned toward Beth Horon, and the third headed toward the border overlooking the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.
19. 19There wasn't a single blacksmith in all of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "We can't let the Hebrews make swords or spears."
20. 20So all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, coulters, axes, and mattocks.
21. 21They had a file for sharpening the mattocks, coulters, forks, axes, and goads.
22. 22So when the day of battle came, not a single soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear — only Saul and Jonathan themselves were armed.
23. 23And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass at Michmash.