1Saul was thirty yearsold when he began to reign, and he reigned forty twoyearsoverIsrael.
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Now Saulchose for himself 3,000* men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in 1Michmash and in the hillcountry of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at 2Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sentaway the rest of the people, each to his tent.
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Jonathansmote3the garrison of the Philistines that was in 4Geba, and the Philistinesheard of it. Then Saul5blew the trumpetthroughout the land, saying, "Let the Hebrewshear."
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AllIsraelheard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel6had becomeodious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
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Now the Philistinesassembled to fight with Israel, 30,000*chariots and 6,000*horsemen, and 7people like the sandwhich is on the seashore* in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of 8Beth-aven.
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When the men of Israelsaw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed ), then 9the peoplehid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.
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Also some of the Hebrewscrossed the Jordan into the land of 10Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the peoplefollowed him trembling.
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Now 11he waitedsevendays, according to the appointedtimeset by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.
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So Saulsaid, "Bring to me the burntoffering and the peaceofferings." And 12he offered the burntoffering.
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As soon as he finishedoffering the burntoffering, behold, Samuelcame; and 13Saulwent out to meet him and to greet him.
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But Samuelsaid, "What have you done?" And Saulsaid, "Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointeddays, and that 14the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,
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therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will comedownagainst me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.' So I forced myself and offered the burntoffering."
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Samuelsaid to Saul, "15You have actedfoolishly; 16you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdomoverIsrael17forever*.
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"But 18now your kingdom shall not endure. 19The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as rulerover His people, because you have not keptwhat the LORDcommanded you."