2Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul’s son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.

3Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!”

4All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the Philistine garrison at Geba and that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army was summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

5The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,00013:5 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads 30,000. chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven.

6The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns.

7Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead.

10Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him,

11but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”

12So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”

13“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

14But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

19There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.

20So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles,13:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads or plowshares. they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith.

21The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce13:21a Hebrew 1 pim [8 grams]. of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce13:21b Hebrew 1/3 [of a shekel] [4 grams]. for sharpening an ax or making the point of an ox goad.

22So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.

23The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.