1 Samuel 13

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Saul was . . . years old when he became king, and reigned over Israel for . . . years.	1 When he began to reign, Saul was the son of one year, and he reigned over Israel for two years.
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 And Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. And two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and at mount Bethel. Then one thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But the remainder of the people, he sent back, each one to his own tent.
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 And Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines, which was in Gibeah. And when the Philistines had heard about it, Saul sounded the trumpet over all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews listen.”
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 And all of Israel heard this report, that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines. And Israel raised himself up against the Philistines. Then the people cried out to Saul at 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 And the Philistines gathered to do battle against Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and the remainder of the common people, who were very many, like the sand that is on the shore of the sea. And ascending, they encamped at Michmash, toward the east of Bethaven.
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 And when the men of Israel had seen themselves to be in a narrowed position, they hid themselves in caves, and in out of the way places, and in rocks, and in hollows, and in pits (for the people were distressed).
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 Then some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan, into the land of Gad and Gilead. And while Saul was still at Gilgal, the entire people who followed him were terrified.
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 But he waited for seven days, in accord with what was agreed with Samuel. But Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, for the people were scattering away from him.
9 Saul then said, 'Bring me the burnt offering and the communion sacrifices.' And he presented the burntoffering.	9 Therefore, Saul said, “Bring me the holocaust and the peace offerings.” And he offered the holocaust.
10 Just as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet andgreet him.	10 And when he had completed the offering of the holocaust, behold, Samuel arrived. And Saul went out to meet him, so that he might 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 said to him, “What have you done?” Saul responded: “Since I saw that the people were scattering away from me, and you had not arrived after the agreed upon days, and yet the Philistines had gathered together 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: ‘Now the Philistines will descend to me at Gilgal. And I have not appeased the face of the Lord.’ Compelled by necessity, I offered 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 And Samuel said to Saul: “You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandments of the Lord your God, which he instructed to you. And if you had not acted in this way, the Lord would, here and now, have prepared your kingdom over Israel forever.
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 by no means shall your kingdom rise up any more. The Lord has sought for himself a man according to his own heart. And him the Lord has instructed to be the leader over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord has instructed.”
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 rose up and ascended from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And the remainder of the people ascended after Saul, to meet the people who were fighting against them, going from Gilgal into Gibeah, to the hill of Benjamin. And Saul took a census of the people, who had been found to be with him, about six hundred men.
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 And Saul, and his son Jonathan, and the people who had been found to be with them, were at Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines had settled in 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 And three companies went out from the camp of the Philistines, in order to plunder. One company was traveling toward the way of Ophrah, to the land 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 Then another entered along the way of Beth-horon. But the third turned itself to the way of the border, overhanging the valley of Zeboim, opposite 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 Now there was no worker of iron to be found in all the land of Israel. For the Philistines had been cautious, lest perhaps the Hebrews might 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 Therefore, all of Israel descended to the Philistines, so that each man could sharpen his plowshare, or pick axe, or hatchet, or hoe.
21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for ploughshares and axes, and one-third for sharpeningmattocks and straightening goads.	21 For their plow blades, and pick axes, and pitch forks, and axes had become blunt, and even the handles needed to be repaired.
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 when the day of battle had arrived, there was found neither sword nor spear in the hand of the entire people who were with Saul and Jonathan, except for Saul and his son Jonathan.
23 A Philistine unit set out for the Pass of Michmash.	23 Then the army of the Philistines went out in order to go across Michmash.