1 Samuel 13 - New Life Version (NLV)

War with the Philistines

13 Saul was forty years old when he began to rule. He ruled over Israel thirty-two years. 2 Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel. There were 2,000 of them with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel. And 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. 3 Jonathan destroyed the place where the Philistine soldiers were in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul sounded the horn through all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 All Israel heard the news that Saul had destroyed the place where the Philistine soldiers were. And they heard that Israel had become a hated thing to the Philistines. Then the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

5 The Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, with 30,000 war-wagons, 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand on the sea shore. They came and set up their tents at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble. The people were in a place of danger. So the people hid themselves in caves, bushes, hill-sides, graves and wells. 7 Some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him in fear.

8 Saul waited seven days, the time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And the people were leaving him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt gift and the peace gifts.” And he gave the burnt gift to the Lord. 10 As soon as he finished giving the burnt gift, Samuel came. Saul went out to meet him and say hello. 11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “I saw that the people were leaving me. You did not come when you said you would. And the Philistines were gathering at Michmash. 12 So I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the Lord’s favor.’ So I made myself give the burnt gift.” 13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have done a foolish act. You have not kept the Law that the Lord your God gave you. For now the Lord would have made your rule over Israel last forever. 14 But now your rule will not last. The Lord has found a man who is pleasing to him in every way. He has chosen him to rule over his people, because you have not obeyed the Lord.”

15 Then Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people that were left with him, about 600 men.

No Swords or Spears

16 Saul and his son Jonathan, and the people with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines stayed at Michmash. 17 Soldiers came from the tents of the Philistines in three groups. One group turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual. 18 Another group turned toward Bethhoron. And another group turned toward the side of the country that looks over the valley of Zeboim toward the desert.

19 Now there was no one to be found in all the land of Israel who made things of iron. For the Philistines said, “The Hebrews might make swords or spears.” 20 So each one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get his plow, his pick, his ax, or his grain cutter sharpened. 21 He had to pay two-thirds part of a piece of silver to have the plows and picks sharpened, and one-third part of a piece of silver to have the axes and grain cutters sharpened. 22 So on the day of battle there was no sword or spear in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But Saul and his son Jonathan had them. 23 And the Philistine soldiers went out to the pass of Michmash.

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1 Samuel 13 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

13 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; ...
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1 Samuel 13 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

13 Saul was a son of one year, that is, as innocent and clean of sin as a child of one year, when he began to reign; and he reigned upon Israel two (and twenty) years. (Saul was fifty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned over Israel for twenty-two years.) 2 And Saul chose to him three th...
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1 Samuel 13 - World English Bible (WEB)

13 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.[a] 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 ...
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1 Samuel 13 - The Voice (VOICE)

13 Saul was about 30[a] years old when he became king, and after he ruled for at least two years, 2 Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel: 2,000 stayed with him in the hill country of Bethel at a place called Michmash, and the other 1,000 joined Saul’s son Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. He sent all the r...
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1 Samuel 13 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Saul’s Misguided Sacrifice13 Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 42 years over Israel. 2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmas and in the hill country of Beth-el, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The ...
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1 Samuel 13 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice13 Saul was . . .[a] years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . and two[b][c] years over Israel. 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gib′e-ah of Be...
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1 Samuel 13 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice13 Saul was . . .[a] years old when he began to reign; and he reigned . . . and two[b] years over Israel. 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gib′e-ah of Benja...
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1 Samuel 13 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice13 Saul was . . .[a] years old when he began to reign; and he reigned for . . . and two[b] years over Israel. 2 Saul chose three thousand out of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Ben...
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1 Samuel 13 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice13 Saul was . . .[a] years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . and two[b] years over Israel.2 Saul chose three thousand out of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin...
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1 Samuel 13 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Continued War with Philistia13 Saul was thirty[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years.[b] 2 Saul 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. ...
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1 Samuel 13 - New Life Version (NLV)

War with the Philistines13 Saul was forty years old when he began to rule. He ruled over Israel thirty-two years. 2 Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel. There were 2,000 of them with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel. And 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away ...
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1 Samuel 13 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Saul’s Unlawful Sacrifice13 Saul [a]reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in (A)Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with (B)Jonathan in (C)Gibeah of Benjamin. The r...
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1 Samuel 13 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Samuel rebukes Saul13 Saul was thirty[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel for forty-[b] two years. 2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. ...
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1 Samuel 13 - New International Version (NIV)

Samuel Rebukes Saul13 Saul was thirty[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-[b] two years. 2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand(A) were with him at Mikmash(B) and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah(C) in Benjam...
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1 Samuel 13 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Samuel Judges Saul’s Sin13 Saul was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled over Israel for 42 years. 2 Saul chose 3,000 of Israel’s men. Two thousand of them were with him at Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel. One thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul sent t...
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1 Samuel 13 - New English Translation (NET)

Saul Fails the Lord13 Saul was [thirty][a] years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty][b] years. 2 Saul selected for himself 3,000 men from Israel. Of these 2,000 were with Saul at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel; the remaining 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah in ...
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