1 Samuel 13:5-14

Saul Fights the Philistines

5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops p like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of q Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves r in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice

8 s He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings." And he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11 Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.' So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul, t "You have done foolishly. u You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now v your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man w after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 11:4
    And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:23
    So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.
  3. Cross References
    Judges 6:2
    And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
    Hebrews 11:38
    Of whom the world was not worthy - wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:8
    Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.
  5. Cross References
    2 Samuel 24:10
    But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.
    1 Chronicles 21:8
    And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.
    2 Chronicles 16:9
    For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.
  6. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:11
    I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:28
    And Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 13:22
    And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.