Saul has become king and the prophet Samuel has given his farewell speech.
I Samuel 13: 1-2, Battle with the Philistines
Saul was [thirty] years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel [forty-] two years. Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
From the NIV footnotes: There are disagreements in the ancient texts on the first verse. Ancient Hebrew manuscripts don't have the word translated "thirty"; a few late manuscripts of the Septuagint include that word. Similarly, the Masoretic Text does not have the word "forty". Much later, the Christian apostle Paul, speaking at a synagogue in Psidian Antioch (Acts 13: 21), quoting from the Old Testament, says that Saul reigned 40 years. Similarly, in verse 5, below, there are also disagreements from some ancient manuscripts on the number of chariots the Philistines had: three thousand or thirty thousand. The NIV text here follows the Septuagint and Syriac manuscripts.
I Samuel 13: 3-7, Battle with the Philistines
Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear!" So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand [38] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
After a summary of Saul's reign in the first few verses, we are suddenly told of Saul's adult son, Jonathan. Considerable time has passed since Saul went wandering after some lost donkeys!
Saul and his son Jonathan attack the Philistines. Saul, as Israel's first king, is intent on pushing back the Philistine boundaries. But initially the battle does not go well.
Robert Alter points out some Hebrew wordplay, a certain deliberate rhythm, to "Hebrews crossed": 'ivrim 'avru and suggests that this rippling rhythm is the reason for the choice of the word Hebrew ('ivrim) here.
I Samuel 13: 8-9, Saul makes an offering
He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
I Samuel 13: 10-14, Samuel arrives
Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
"What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, `Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."
Samuel apparently had told Saul to wait. Samuel is angry and this sacrifice seems to be a serious violation of principle. So quickly the new king has caused trouble!
Robert Alter and Ronald Youngblood, in separate commentaries, think it strange that just as Saul finishes the sacrifice, Samuel appears. They both suggest that Saul has delayed a bit, possibly testing this first king. If so, Saul has failed this test.
I Samuel 13: 15-23, Saul prepares to confront Philistine raiders
Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.
Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Micmash. Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the desert.
Saul and his son Jonathan prepare to confront the Philistines.
I Samuel 13: 19-22, Not a blacksmith in Israel
Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. The price was two thirds of a shekel for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
Note the effect of the Iron Age! The Philistines, in their occupation of Israel, are keeping tight control over this new technology.
I Samuel 13: 23, Not a blacksmith in Israel
Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash.
The chapter ends on a cliff-hanger. The entire chapter has been a prelude to a dramatic battle that will occur in the next chapter.
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