1 Samuel 13

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Saul was . . . years old when he became king, and reigned over Israel for . . . years.	1 (Saul was. . . years old when he became king and he reigned. . . (two) years over Israel.)
2 Saul selected three thousand men of Israel; two thousand of them were with Saul at Michmash and inthe highlands of Bethel, and one thousand with Jonathan at Geba of Benjamin; the rest of the people Saul senthome, everyone to his tent.	2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel, of whom two thousand remained with him in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people back to their tents.
3 Jonathan kil ed the Philistine governor stationed at Gibeah and the Philistines were informed that theHebrews had risen in revolt. Saul had the trumpet sounded throughout the country,	3 Now Jonathan overcame the Philistine garrison which was in Gibeah, and the Philistines got word of it. Then Saul sounded the horn throughout the land, with a proclamation, "Let the Hebrews hear!"
4 and al Israel heard the news, 'Saul has kil ed the Philistine governor, and now Israel has antagonisedthe Philistines.' So all the people ral ied behind Saul at Gilgal.	4 Thus all Israel learned that Saul had overcome the garrison of the Philistines and that Israel had brought disgrace upon the Philistines; and the soldiers were called up to Saul in Gilgal.
5 The Philistines mustered to make war on Israel, three thousand chariots, six thousand horse and aforce as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and pitched camp at Michmash, to the east ofBeth-Aven.	5 The Philistines also assembled for battle, with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and foot soldiers as numerous as the sands of the seashore. Moving up against Israel, they encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
6 When the Israelites saw that their plight was desperate, being so hard pressed, the people hid incaves, in holes, in crevices, in vaults, in wel s.	6 Some Israelites, aware of the danger and of the difficult situation, hid themselves in caves, in thickets, among rocks, in caverns, and in cisterns,
7 Some also crossed the Jordan fords into the territory of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal and althe people who followed him were trembling.	7 and other Hebrews passed over the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, held out at Gilgal, although all his followers were seized with fear.
8 He waited for seven days, the period fixed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and thearmy, deserting Saul, began dispersing.	8 He waited seven days--the time Samuel had determined. When Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, the men began to slip away from Saul.
9 Saul then said, 'Bring me the burnt offering and the communion sacrifices.' And he presented the burntoffering.	9 He then said, "Bring me the holocaust and peace offerings," and he offered up the holocaust.
10 Just as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet andgreet him.	10 He had just finished this offering when Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet him,
11 Samuel said, 'What have you been doing?' Saul replied, 'I saw the army deserting me anddispersing, and you had not come at the time fixed, while the Philistines were mustering at Michmash.	11 and Samuel asked him, "What have you done?" Saul replied: "When I saw that the men were slipping away from me, since you had not come by the specified time, and with the Philistines assembled at Michmash,
12 So I thought: Now the Philistines are going to fall on me at Gilgal and I have not implored the favourof Yahweh. So I felt obliged to make the burnt offering myself.'	12 I said to myself, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not yet sought the LORD'S blessing.' So in my anxiety I offered up the holocaust."
13 Samuel said to Saul, 'You have acted like a fool. You have not obeyed the order which Yahweh yourGod gave you. Otherwise, Yahweh would have confirmed your sovereignty over Israel for ever.	13 Samuel's response was: "You have been foolish! Had you kept the command the LORD your God gave you, the LORD would now establish your kingship in Israel as lasting;
14 But now your sovereignty wil not last; Yahweh has discovered a man after his own heart anddesignated him as leader of his people, since you have not carried out what Yahweh ordered you.'	14 but as things are, your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and has appointed him commander of his people, because you broke the LORD'S command."
15 Samuel then got up and left Gilgal to continue his journey. Those people remaining followed Saul ashe went to join the warriors, and went from Gilgal to Geba of Benjamin. Saul reviewed the force that was withhim; there were about six hundred men.	15 Then Samuel set out from Gilgal and went his own way; but the rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the soldiers, going from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul then numbered the soldiers he had with him, who were about six hundred.
16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the force that was with them took up their quarters in Geba of Benjaminwhile the Philistines camped at Michmash.	16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the soldiers they had with them were now occupying Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were encamped at Michmash.
17 The raiding company sallied out of the Philistine camp in three groups: one group made for Ophrahin the territory of Shual;	17 Meanwhile, raiders left the camp of the Philistines in three bands. One band took the Ophrah road toward the district of Shual;
18 one group made for Beth-Horon; and one group made for the high ground overlooking the Valley ofthe Hyenas, in the direction of the desert.	18 another turned in the direction of Beth-horon; and the third took the road for Geba that overlooks the Valley of the Hyenas toward the desert.
19 There was not a single blacksmith throughout the territory of Israel, the Philistines' reasoning being,'We do not want the Hebrews making swords or spears.'	19 Not a single smith was to be found in the whole land of Israel, for the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears."
20 Hence, the Israelites were al in the habit of going down individually to the Philistines to sharpen theirploughshares, axes, mattocks and scythes.	20 All Israel, therefore, had to go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.
21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for ploughshares and axes, and one-third for sharpeningmattocks and straightening goads.	21 The price for the plowshares and mattocks was two-thirds of a shekel, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the ox-goads.
22 So it was that on the day of the battle, no one in the army with Saul and Jonathan was equipped witheither sword or spear; only Saul and his son Jonathan were so equipped.	22 And so on the day of battle neither sword nor spear could be found in the possession of any of the soldiers with Saul or Jonathan. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
23 A Philistine unit set out for the Pass of Michmash.	23 An outpost of the Philistines had pushed forward to the pass of Michmash.