1Samuel 13:15 - Prayer Tents

1Samuel 13

Saul’s Failure

13Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years over Israel.H7586H4427H1121H8141H4427H8147H8141H34782He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself: 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel's hill country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.H7586H977H7969H505H3478H505H7586H4363H2022H1008H505H3129H1390H1144H3499H5971H7971H376H1683Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram's horn throughout the land saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"H3129H5221H5333H6430H1387H6430H8085H7586H8628H7782H776H559H5680H80854And all Israel heard the news, "Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines." Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.H3478H8085H559H7586H5221H5333H6430H3478H887H6430H5971H6817H310H7586H15375The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.H6430H622H3898H3478H7970H505H7393H8337H505H6571H5971H2344H3220H8193H7230H5927H2583H4363H6926H10076The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.H376H3478H7200H6887H5971H5065H5971H2244H4631H2337H5553H6877H9537Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.H5680H5674H3383H776H1410H1568H7586H1537H5971H310H27298He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.H3176H3176H7651H3117H4150H8050H8050H935H1537H5971H63279So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering.H7586H559H5066H5930H8002H5927H593010Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,H3615H5927H5930H8050H935H7586H3318H7125H128811and Samuel asked, "What have you done?" Saul answered, "When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn't come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,H8050H559H6213H7586H559H7200H5971H5310H935H3117H4150H6430H622H436312I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought the LORD's favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."H559H6430H3381H1537H2470H6440H3068H662H5927H593013Samuel said to Saul, "You have been foolish. You have not kept the command which the LORD your God gave you. It was at this time that the LORD would have permanently established your reign over Israel,H8050H559H7586H5528H8104H4687H3068H430H6680H3068H3559H4467H3478H5704H576914but now your reign will not endure. The LORD has found a man loyal to Him, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the LORD commanded."H4467H6965H3068H1245H376H3824H3068H6680H5057H5971H8104H3068H668015Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about 600 men.H8050H6965H5927H1537H1390H1144H7586H6485H5971H4672H8337H3967H37616Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash.H7586H3129H1121H5971H4672H3427H1387H1144H6430H2583H436317Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual.H7843H3318H4264H6430H7969H7218H259H7218H6437H1870H6084H776H777718The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.H259H7218H6437H1870H1032H259H7218H6437H1870H1366H8259H1516H6650H405719No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears."H2796H4672H776H3478H6430H559H5680H6213H2719H259520So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.H3478H3381H6430H3913H376H4282H855H7134H428121The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plowshares and mattocks, and one-third [of a shekel] for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on an oxgoad.H6477H6310H4281H855H7969H7053H7134H5324H186122So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had [weapons].H3117H4421H2719H2595H4672H3027H5971H7586H3129H7586H3129H1121H4672

Jonathan’s Victory over the Philistines

23Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.H4673H6430H3318H4569H4363