1 Samuel, 13

1. Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

1. Saul became king and he ruled 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.

2. Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with him in Michmash and in 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.

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.

3. 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!"

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.

4. 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

8. Saul was still at Gilgal and all the people with him were afraid. He waited seven days - the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal and the people were beginning to disperse.

9. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

9. So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings as well." Saul then 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.

10. He had just finished offering it when Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet Samuel

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;

11. who threw him this question, "What have you done?" Saul answered him, "When I saw the people beginning to disperse because of your failure to arrive on time, and considering that the Philistines have mustered their forces 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.

12. I said to myself, 'The Philistines will launch their attack against me before I get Yahweh's blessings and so I decided to offer the burnt offerings."

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.

13. Samuel told Saul, "You have done a foolish thing by not obeying the command of Yahweh your God who would have established your rule forever.

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.

14. But now your kingship will not last, for Yahweh has chosen someone else more pleasing to him, whom he has appointed to be commander over his people because you have not done what Yahweh commanded you."

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.

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

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.

16. While Saul and his son Jonathan stayed in Gebah of Benjamin with the men, the Philistines pitched camp 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:

17. Raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three companies - one company turned to Ophrah, to 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.

18. the other, to Bethoron; and the third, to the border overlooking 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:

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

20. To have their plowshare, mattock, axe or sickle sharpened, the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines

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.

21. 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.

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.

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

23. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

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