1 Samuel13
New Living Translation
1Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.
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 3,000 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. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
8Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.
9So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
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?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle.
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.”
15Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!
16Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash.
17Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,
18another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.
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, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith.
21The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The invasion of the Philistines. (1–7). Saul sacrifices, He is reproved by Samuel. (8–14). The policy of the Philistines. (15–23).
vv1-7
Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above a year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken and to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency, they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends. When Saul at length sounded an alarm, the people, dissatisfied with his management, or terrified by the power of the enemy, did not come to him, or speedily deserted him.
vv8-14
Saul broke the order expressly given by Samuel, see ch. 1Sa 10:8, as to what should be done in cases of extremity. Saul offered sacrifice without Samuel, and did it himself, though he was neither priest nor prophet. When charged with disobedience, he justified himself in what he had done, and gave no sign of repentance for it. He would have this act of disobedience pass for an instance of his prudence, and as a proof of his piety. Men destitute of inward piety, often lay great stress on the outward performances of religion. Samuel charges Saul with being an enemy to himself. Those that disobey the commandments of God, do foolishly for themselves. Sin is folly, and the greatest sinners are the greatest fools. Our disposition to obey or disobey God, will often be proved by our behaviour in things which appear small. Men see nothing but Saul's outward act, which seems small; but God saw that he did this with unbelief and distrust of his providence, with contempt of his authority and justice, and with rebellion against the light of his own conscience. Blessed Saviour, may we never, like Saul, bring our poor offerings, or fancied peace-offerings, without looking to thy precious, thy all-sufficient sacrifice! Thou only, O Lord, canst make, or hast made, our peace in the blood of the cross.
vv15-23
See how politic the Philistines were when they had power; they not only prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war, but obliged them to depend upon their enemies, even for instruments of husbandry. How impolitic Saul was, who did not, in the beginning of his reign, set himself to redress this. Want of true sense always accompanies want of grace. Sins which appear to us very little, have dangerous consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenceless nation; much more those who are destitute of the whole armour of God.
Key Words
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בָּחַר: properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
שָׁלוֹשׁ: three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
אֶלֶף: hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
מִכְמָס: Mikmas or Mikmash, a place in Palestine
הַר: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Cross References
1 Samuel 13Samuel's explicit command for Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal, which Saul disobeyed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul quotes this verse directly, identifying David as the man after God's own heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Samuel's later rebuke of Saul's sacrifice, establishing that obedience is better than sacrifice.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the complete lack of shields and spears in Israel due to foreign oppression.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the Philistine garrison in Geba/Gibeah, previously mentioned at Saul's anointing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Hanani's similar rebuke to Asa, telling him he has "done foolishly" in relying on flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel expression of becoming a "stink" or "abomination" before a ruling enemy power.
Supported by JFB
Classical Hebrew idiom used to describe the overwhelming multitude of the Philistine army.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the Israelites hiding in dens, caves, and strongholds under Midianite oppression.
Supported by JFB
Similar military disarmament strategy of removing smiths, used later by the Babylonians.
Supported by Matthew Henry