13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. |
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." |
15 Then Samuel left Gilgal6 13:15 Hebrew; Septuagint Gilgal and went his way; the rest of the people went after Saul to meet the army, and they went out of Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred. |
16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah7 13:16 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba , a variant of Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Micmash. |
17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, |
18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the desert. |
19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" |
20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles8 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plowshares sharpened. |
21 The price was two thirds of a shekel9 13:21 Hebrew pim; that is, about 1/4 ounce (about 8 grams) for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel10 13:21 That is, about 1/8 ounce (about 4 grams) for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. |
22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. |
23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash. |
