{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/13","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T02:54:35.377Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","book":"1 Samuel","bookSlug":"1-samuel","chapter":13,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":12,"nextChapter":14,"totalChapters":31,"totalVerses":23},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Saul chose him three thousand <i>men</i> of Israel; <i>whereof</i> two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that <i>was</i> in Geba, and the Philistines heard <i>of it</i>. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"And all Israel heard say <i>that</i> Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and <i>that</i> Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which <i>is</i> on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And <i>some of</i> the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he <i>was</i> yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel <i>had appointed</i>: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and <i>that</i> thou camest not within the days appointed, and <i>that</i> the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him <i>to be</i> captain over his people, because thou hast not kept <i>that</i> which the LORD commanded thee."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people <i>that were</i> present with him, about six hundred men."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people <i>that were</i> present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way <i>that leadeth to</i> Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"And another company turned the way <i>to</i> Bethhoron: and another company turned <i>to</i> the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make <i>them</i> swords or spears:"},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that <i>were</i> with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash."}],"citation":{"inline":"1 Samuel 13 (KJV)","markdown":"[1 Samuel 13](https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/13)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/1-samuel/13 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}