1 Samuel 13 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
1 Samuel 13 (WEBP)
[1] Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.°
[2] Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the people to their own tents.
[3] Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
[4] All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was considered an abomination to the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
[5] The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.
[6] When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits.
[7] Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
[8] He stayed seven days, according to the time set by Samuel; but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him.
[9] Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering to me here, and the peace offerings.” He offered the burnt offering.
[10] It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
[11] Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash,
[12] therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.”
[13] Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.
[14] But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.”
[15] Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
[16] Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
[17] The raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
[18] another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
[19] Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears”;
[20] but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each man to sharpen his own plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle.
[21] The price was one payim° each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads.
[22] So it came to pass in the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
[23] The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:1 The traditional Hebrew text omits “thirty” and “forty-”. The blanks are filled in here from a few manuscripts of the Septuagint.
1 Samuel 13:21 A payim (or pim) was 2/3 shekel of silver, or 0.26 ounces, or 7.6 grams
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
1 Samuel 13 (KJVS)
[1] Saul H7586 reigned H4427 (8800) one year H1121 H8141; and when he had reigned H4427 (8804) two H8147 years H8141 over Israel H3478,
[2] Saul H7586 chose H977 (8799) him three H7969 thousand H505 [men] of Israel H3478; [whereof] two thousand H505 were with Saul H7586 in Michmash H4363 and in mount H2022 Bethel H1008, and a thousand H505 were with Jonathan H3129 in Gibeah H1390 of Benjamin H1144: and the rest H3499 of the people H5971 he sent H7971 (8765) every man H376 to his tent H168.
[3] And Jonathan H3129 smote H5221 (8686) the garrison H5333 of the Philistines H6430 that [was] in Geba H1387, and the Philistines H6430 heard H8085 (8799) [of it]. And Saul H7586 blew H8628 (8804) the trumpet H7782 throughout all the land H776, saying H559 (8800), Let the Hebrews H5680 hear H8085 (8799).
[4] And all Israel H3478 heard H8085 (8804) say H559 (8800) [that] Saul H7586 had smitten H5221 (8689) a garrison H5333 of the Philistines H6430, and [that] Israel H3478 also was had in abomination H887 (8738) with the Philistines H6430. And the people H5971 were called together H6817 (8735) after H310 Saul H7586 to Gilgal H1537.
[5] And the Philistines H6430 gathered themselves together H622 (8738) to fight H3898 (8736) with Israel H3478, thirty H7970 thousand H505 chariots H7393, and six H8337 thousand H505 horsemen H6571, and people H5971 as the sand H2344 which [is] on the sea H3220 shore H8193 in multitude H7230: and they came up H5927 (8799), and pitched H2583 (8799) in Michmash H4363, eastward H6926 from Bethaven H1007.
[6] When the men H376 of Israel H3478 saw H7200 (8804) that they were in a strait H6887 (8804), (for the people H5971 were distressed H5065 (8738),) then the people H5971 did hide H2244 (8691) themselves in caves H4631, and in thickets H2337, and in rocks H5553, and in high places H6877, and in pits H953.
[7] And [some of] the Hebrews H5680 went over H5674 (8804) Jordan H3383 to the land H776 of Gad H1410 and Gilead H1568. As for Saul H7586, he [was] yet in Gilgal H1537, and all the people H5971 followed H310 him trembling H2729 (8804).
[8] And he tarried H3176 (8686) (8675) H3176 (8735) seven H7651 days H3117, according to the set time H4150 that Samuel H8050 [had appointed]: but Samuel H8050 came H935 (8804) not to Gilgal H1537; and the people H5971 were scattered H6327 (8686) from him.
[9] And Saul H7586 said H559 (8799), Bring hither H5066 (8685) a burnt offering H5930 to me, and peace offerings H8002. And he offered H5927 (8686) the burnt offering H5930.
[10] And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end H3615 (8763) of offering H5927 (8687) the burnt offering H5930, behold, Samuel H8050 came H935 (8802); and Saul H7586 went out H3318 (8799) to meet H7125 (8800) him, that he might salute H1288 (8800) him.
[11] And Samuel H8050 said H559 (8799), What hast thou done H6213 (8804)? And Saul H7586 said H559 (8799), Because I saw H7200 (8804) that the people H5971 were scattered H5310 (8804) from me, and [that] thou camest H935 (8804) not within the days H3117 appointed H4150, and [that] the Philistines H6430 gathered themselves together H622 (8737) at Michmash H4363;
[12] Therefore said H559 (8799) I, The Philistines H6430 will come down H3381 (8799) now upon me to Gilgal H1537, and I have not made supplication H2470 (8765) unto H6440 the LORD H3068: I forced H662 (8691) myself therefore, and offered H5927 (8686) a burnt offering H5930.
[13] And Samuel H8050 said H559 (8799) to Saul H7586, Thou hast done foolishly H5528 (8738): thou hast not kept H8104 (8804) the commandment H4687 of the LORD H3068 thy God H430, which he commanded H6680 (8765) thee: for now would the LORD H3068 have established H3559 (8689) thy kingdom H4467 upon Israel H3478 for H5704 ever H5769.
[14] But now thy kingdom H4467 shall not continue H6965 (8799): the LORD H3068 hath sought H1245 (8765) him a man H376 after his own heart H3824, and the LORD H3068 hath commanded H6680 (8762) him [to be] captain H5057 over his people H5971, because thou hast not kept H8104 (8804) [that] which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 (8765) thee.
[15] And Samuel H8050 arose H6965 (8799), and gat him up H5927 (8799) from Gilgal H1537 unto Gibeah H1390 of Benjamin H1144. And Saul H7586 numbered H6485 (8799) the people H5971 [that were] present H4672 (8737) with him, about six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376.
[16] And Saul H7586, and Jonathan H3129 his son H1121, and the people H5971 [that were] present H4672 (8737) with them, abode H3427 (8802) in Gibeah H1387 of Benjamin H1144: but the Philistines H6430 encamped H2583 (8804) in Michmash H4363.
[17] And the spoilers H7843 (8688) came out H3318 (8799) of the camp H4264 of the Philistines H6430 in three H7969 companies H7218: one H259 company H7218 turned H6437 (8799) unto the way H1870 [that leadeth to] Ophrah H6084, unto the land H776 of Shual H7777:
[18] And another H259 company H7218 turned H6437 (8799) the way H1870 [to] Bethhoron H1032: and another H259 company H7218 turned H6437 (8799) [to] the way H1870 of the border H1366 that looketh H8259 (8737) to the valley H1516 of Zeboim H6650 toward the wilderness H4057.
[19] Now there was no smith H2796 found H4672 (8735) throughout all the land H776 of Israel H3478: for the Philistines H6430 said H559 (8804), Lest the Hebrews H5680 make H6213 (8799) [them] swords H2719 or spears H2595:
[20] But all the Israelites H3478 went down H3381 (8799) to the Philistines H6430, to sharpen H3913 (8800) every man H376 his share H4282, and his coulter H855, and his axe H7134, and his mattock H4281.
[21] Yet they had a file H6477 H6310 for the mattocks H4281, and for the coulters H855, and for the forks H7969 H7053, and for the axes H7134, and to sharpen H5324 (8687) the goads H1861.
[22] So it came to pass in the day H3117 of battle H4421, that there was neither sword H2719 nor spear H2595 found H4672 (8738) in the hand H3027 of any of the people H5971 that [were] with Saul H7586 and Jonathan H3129: but with Saul H7586 and with Jonathan H3129 his son H1121 was there found H4672 (8735).
[23] And the garrison H4673 of the Philistines H6430 went out H3318 (8799) to the passage H4569 of Michmash H4363.
Young’s Literal Translation
1 Samuel 13 (YLT)
[1] A son of a year is Saul in his reigning, yea, two years he hath reigned over Israel,
[2] and Saul chooseth for himself three thousand men out of Israel; and two thousand are with Saul in Michmash, and in the hill-country of Beth-El; and a thousand have been with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; and the remnant of the people he hath sent each to his tents.
[3] And Jonathan smiteth the garrison of the Philistines which is in Geba, and the Philistines hear, and Saul hath blown with a trumpet through all the land, saying, ‘Let the Hebrews hear.’
[4] And all Israel have heard, saying, ‘Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines,’ and also, ‘Israel hath been abhorred by the Philistines;’ and the people are called after Saul to Gilgal.
[5] And the Philistines have been gathered to fight with Israel; thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and a people as the sand which is on the sea-shore for multitude; and they come up and encamp in Michmash, east of Beth-Aven.
[6] And the men of Israel have seen that they are distressed, that the people hath been oppressed, and the people hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
[7] And Hebrews have passed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; and Saul is yet in Gilgal, and all the people have trembled after him.
[8] And he waiteth seven days, according to the appointment with Samuel, and Samuel hath not come to Gilgal, and the people are scattered from off him.
[9] And Saul saith, ‘Bring nigh unto me the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings;’ and he causeth the burnt-offering to ascend.
[10] And it cometh to pass at his completing to cause the burnt-offering to ascend, that lo, Samuel hath come, and Saul goeth out to meet him, to bless him;
[11] and Samuel saith, ‘What hast thou done?’ And Saul saith, ‘Because I saw that the people were scattered from off me, and thou hadst not come at the appointment of the days, and the Philistines are gathered to Michmash,
[12] and I say, Now do the Philistines come down unto me to Gilgal, and the face of Jehovah I have not appeased; and I force myself, and cause the burnt-offering to ascend.’
[13] And Samuel saith unto Saul, ‘Thou hast been foolish; thou hast not kept the command of Jehovah thy God, which He commanded thee, for now had Jehovah established thy kingdom over Israel unto the age;
[14] and, now, thy kingdom doth not stand, Jehovah hath sought for Himself a man according to His own heart, and Jehovah chargeth him for leader over His people, for thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.’
[15] And Samuel riseth, and goeth up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin; and Saul inspecteth the people who are found with him, about six hundred men,
[16] and Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who are found with them, are abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin, and the Philistines have encamped in Michmash.
[17] And the destroyer goeth out from the camp of the Philistines-three detachments; the one detachment turneth unto the way of Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;
[18] and the one detachment turneth the way of Beth-Horon, and the one detachment turneth the way of the border which is looking on the valley of the Zeboim, toward the wilderness.
[19] And an artificer is not found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, ‘Lest the Hebrews make sword or spear;’
[20] and all Israel go down to the Philistines, to sharpen each his ploughshare, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock;
[21] and there hath been the file for mattocks, and for coulters, and for three-pronged rakes, and for the axes, and to set up the goads.
[22] And it hath been, in the day of battle, that there hath not been found sword and spear in the hand of any of the people who are with Saul and with Jonathan-and there is found to Saul and to Jonathan his son.
[23] And the station of the Philistines goeth out unto the passage of Michmash.