Saulchose him threethousand men of Israel; whereof two thousandwerewithSaul in Michmash and in mountBethel, and a thousandwerewithJonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sentevery man to his tent.
And Jonathansmote the garrison of the Philistinesthat was in Geba, and the Philistinesheard of it. And Saulblew the trumpetthroughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrewshear.
And all Israelheard say thatSaul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and thatIsraelalso was had in abominationwith the Philistines. And the peoplewerecalledtogetherafterSaul to Gilgal.
And the Philistinesgatheredthemselvestogether to fightwithIsrael, thirtythousandchariots, and six thousandhorsemen, and people as the sandwhich is on the sea shore in multitude: and theycame up, and pitched in Michmash, eastwardfromBethaven.
When the men of Israel saw thattheywere in a strait, (for the peopleweredistressed,) then the people did hidethemselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in highplaces, and in pits.
And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burntoffering, behold, Samuelcame; and Saulwent out to meet him, that he mightsalute him.
And Samuelsaid, Whathastthoudone? And Saulsaid, Because I saw that the peoplewerescatteredfrom me, and thatthoucamest not within the daysappointed, and that the Philistinesgatheredthemselvestogether at Michmash;
Thereforesaid I, The Philistineswillcomedown now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not madesupplicationunto the LORD: I forcedmyselftherefore, and offered a burntoffering.
And Samuelsaid to Saul, Thouhastdonefoolishly: thouhast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commandedthee: for now would the LORDhaveestablished thy kingdomuponIsrael for ever.
But now thy kingdomshall not continue: the LORDhathsought him a man after his own heart, and the LORDhathcommanded him to be captainover his people, becausethouhast not keptthatwhich the LORDcommandedthee.
And the spoilerscame out of the camp of the Philistines in threecompanies: one companyturnedunto the way thatleadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
And anothercompanyturned the way to Bethhoron: and anothercompanyturned to the way of the borderthatlooketh to the valley of Zeboimtoward the wilderness.
So it came to pass in the day of battle, thatthere was neithersword nor spearfound in the hand of any of the peoplethatwerewithSaul and Jonathan: but withSaul and withJonathan his son was therefound.