Saul Fights the Philistines

1 Samuel 13

1 Saul 1 reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2

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 rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan attacked d the garrison of the Philistines that was in e Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!" 4 Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become 3 an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.

5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, 4 thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people f as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of g Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people h hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the i land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

  1. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:36
    The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods - wood and stone.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:5
    The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.
    1 Samuel 14:31
    Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:1
    Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:26
    And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:5
    After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
  6. Cross References
    2 Samuel 5:25
    And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 7:12
    Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.
  8. Cross References
    Joshua 7:2
    Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and spy out the country." So the men went up and spied out Ai.
    1 Samuel 14:23
    So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
  9. Cross References
    Judges 6:2
    And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.
    1 Samuel 14:11
    So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Next Book Next Book