Samuel Rebukes Saul

13 Saul was thirty^[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-^[b] two years.

² Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand^(A) were with him at Mikmash^(B) and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah^(C) in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.

³ Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost^(D) at Geba,^(E) and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet^(F) blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!” ⁴ So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious^(G) to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

⁵ The Philistines assembled^(H) to fight Israel, with three thousand^[c] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand^(I) on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash,^(J) east of Beth Aven.^{(K) 6} When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid^(L) in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.^{(M) 7} Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad^(N) and Gilead.

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking^(O) with fear. ⁸ He waited seven^(P) days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. ⁹ So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered^(Q) up the burnt offering. ¹⁰ Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel^(R) arrived, and Saul went out to greet^(S) him.

¹¹ “What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash,^{(T) 12} I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal,^(U) and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.^(V)’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

¹³ “You have done a foolish thing,^(W)” Samuel said. “You have not kept^(X) the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.^{(Y) 14} But now your kingdom^(Z) will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart^(AA) and appointed^(AB) him ruler^(AC) of his people, because you have not kept^(AD) the Lord’s command.”

¹⁵ Then Samuel left Gilgal^[d] and went up to Gibeah^(AE) in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.^(AF)

Israel Without Weapons

¹⁶ Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah^[e](AG) in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. ¹⁷ Raiding^(AH) parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah^(AI) in the vicinity of Shual, ¹⁸ another toward Beth Horon,^(AJ) and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim^(AK) facing the wilderness.

¹⁹ Not a blacksmith^(AL) could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!^(AM)” ²⁰ So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles^[f] sharpened. ²¹ The price was two-thirds of a shekel^[g] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel^[h] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.

²² So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan^(AN) had a sword or spear^(AO) in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines

²³ Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass^(AP) at Mikmash.^(AQ) 14 ¹ One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying^(AR) on the outskirts of Gibeah^(AS) under a pomegranate tree^(AT) in Migron.^(AU) With him were about six hundred men, ³ among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s^(AV) brother Ahitub^(AW) son of Phinehas, the son of Eli,^(AX) the Lord’s priest in Shiloh.^(AY) No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

⁴ On each side of the pass^(AZ) that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. ⁵ One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.^(BA)

⁶ Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised^(BB) men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing^(BC) can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many^(BD) or by few.^(BE)”

⁷ “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

⁸ Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. ⁹ If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign^(BF) that the Lord has given them into our hands.^(BG)”

¹¹ So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews^(BH) are crawling out of the holes they were hiding^(BI) in.” ¹² The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.^(BJ)”

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand^(BK) of Israel.”

¹³ Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. ¹⁴ In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

Israel Routs the Philistines

¹⁵ Then panic^(BL) struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding^(BM) parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.^[i]

¹⁶ Saul’s lookouts^(BN) at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. ¹⁷ Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

¹⁸ Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring^(BO) the ark^(BP) of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.)^{[j] 19} While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest,^(BQ) “Withdraw your hand.”

²⁰ Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking^(BR) each other with their swords. ²¹ Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went^(BS) over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. ²² When all the Israelites who had hidden^(BT) in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. ²³ So on that day the Lord saved^(BU) Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.^(BV)

Jonathan Eats Honey

²⁴ Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath,^(BW) saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.

²⁵ The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶ When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. ²⁷ But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb.^(BX) He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.^{[k] 28} Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the army under a strict oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food today!’ That is why the men are faint.”

²⁹ Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble^(BY) for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”

³¹ That day, after the Israelites had struck down the Philistines from Mikmash^(BZ) to Aijalon,^(CA) they were exhausted. ³² They pounced on the plunder^(CB) and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.^{(CC) 33} Then someone said to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood^(CD) in it.”

“You have broken faith,” he said. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” ³⁴ Then he said, “Go out among the men and tell them, ‘Each of you bring me your cattle and sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with blood still^(CE) in it.’”

So everyone brought his ox that night and slaughtered it there. ³⁵ Then Saul built an altar^(CF) to the Lord; it was the first time he had done this.

³⁶ Saul said, “Let us go down and pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.”

“Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied.

But the priest said, “Let us inquire^(CG) of God here.”

³⁷ So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?” But God did not answer^(CH) him that day.

³⁸ Saul therefore said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the army, and let us find out what sin has been committed^(CI) today. ³⁹ As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives,^(CJ) even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan,^(CK) he must die.”^(CL) But not one of them said a word.

⁴⁰ Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.”

“Do what seems best to you,” they replied.

⁴¹ Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault,^[l] respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. ⁴² Saul said, “Cast the lot^(CM) between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”^(CN)

So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey^(CO) with the end of my staff. And now I must die!”

⁴⁴ Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,^(CP) if you do not die, Jonathan.^(CQ)”

⁴⁵ But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair^(CR) of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued^(CS) Jonathan, and he was not put to death.

⁴⁶ Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.

⁴⁷ After Saul had assumed rule over Israel, he fought against their enemies on every side: Moab,^(CT) the Ammonites,^(CU) Edom,^(CV) the kings^[m] of Zobah,^(CW) and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them.^{[n] 48} He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites,^(CX) delivering Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.

Saul’s Family

⁴⁹ Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua.^(CY) The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.^{(CZ) 50} His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul’s army was Abner^(DA) son of Ner, and Ner was Saul’s uncle.^{(DB) 51} Saul’s father Kish^(DC) and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.

⁵² All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took^(DD) him into his service.

David and Goliath

17 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled^(A) at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh^(B) and Azekah.^{(C) 2} Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah^(D) and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁴ A champion named Goliath,^(E) who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.^{[a] 5} He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels^[b]; ⁶ on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin^(F) was slung on his back. ⁷ His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod,^(G) and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.^[c] His shield bearer^(H) went ahead of him.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose^(I) a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy^(J) the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.^(K)” ¹¹ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

¹² Now David was the son of an Ephrathite^(L) named Jesse,^(M) who was from Bethlehem^(N) in Judah. Jesse had eight^(O) sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. ¹³ Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab;^(P) the second, Abinadab;^(Q) and the third, Shammah.^{(R) 14} David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul to tend^(S) his father’s sheep^(T) at Bethlehem.

¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah^[d](U) of roasted grain^(V) and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. ¹⁸ Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers^(W) are and bring back some assurance^[e] from them. ¹⁹ They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

²⁰ Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. ²¹ Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. ²² David left his things with the keeper of supplies,^(X) ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. ²³ As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual^(Y) defiance, and David heard it. ²⁴ Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

²⁵ Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter^(Z) in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes^(AA) in Israel.”

²⁶ David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace^(AB) from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised^(AC) Philistine that he should defy^(AD) the armies of the living^(AE) God?”

²⁷ They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

²⁸ When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger^(AF) at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

²⁹ “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” ³⁰ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. ³¹ What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

³² David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart^(AG) on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

³³ Saul replied,^(AH) “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion^(AI) or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, ³⁵ I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized^(AJ) it by its hair, struck it and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both the lion^(AK) and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. ³⁷ The Lord who rescued^(AL) me from the paw of the lion^(AM) and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with^(AN) you.”

³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own^(AO) tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer^(AP) in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome,^(AQ) and he despised^(AR) him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog,^(AS) that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds^(AT) and the wild animals!^(AU)”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,^(AV) but I come against you in the name^(AW) of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.^{(AX) 46} This day the Lord will deliver^(AY) you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses^(AZ) of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world^(BA) will know that there is a God in Israel.^{(BB) 47} All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword^(BC) or spear that the Lord saves;^(BD) for the battle^(BE) is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling^(BF) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut^(BG) off his head with the sword.^(BH)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. ⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath^[f] and to the gates of Ekron.^(BI) Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim^(BJ) road to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

⁵⁴ David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

⁵⁵ As Saul watched David^(BK) going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner,^(BL) whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

⁵⁶ The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse^(BM) of Bethlehem.”