I Samuel 13

ben-shanah sha'ul bemolkho ushete shanim malakh al-yisra'el

Saul was … years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel two years.

vayyivkhar-lo sha'ul sheloshet alafim miyyisra'el vayyihyu im-sha'ul alpayim bemikhmas uvehar bet-el ve'elef hayu im-yonatan begivat binyamin veyeter ha'am shillakh ish le'ohalayw

Saul picked 3,000 Israelites, of whom 2,000 were with Saul in Michmas and in the hill country of Bethel, and 1,000 with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the rest of the troops he sent back to their homes.

vayyakh yonatan et netsiv pelishtim asher begeva vayyishme'u pelishtim vesha'ul taqa bashofar bekhol-ha'arets lemor yishme'u ha'ivrim

Jonathan struck down the Philistine prefect in Geba; and the Philistines heard about it. Saul had the ram’s horn sounded throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”

vekhol-yisra'el shame'u lemor hikkah sha'ul et-netsiv pelishtim vegam-nivash yisra'el bappelishtim vayyitsa'aqu ha'am akhare sha'ul haggilgal

When all Israel heard that Saul had struck down the Philistine prefect, and that Israel had incurred the wrath of the Philistines, all the people rallied to Saul at Gilgal.

ufelishtim ne'esfu lehillakhem im-yisra'el sheloshim elef rekhev vesheshet alafim parashim ve'am kakhol asher al-sefat-hayyam larov vayya'alu vayyakhanu vemikhmas qidmat bet aven

The Philistines, in turn, gathered to attack Israel: 30,000 chariots and 6,000 riders, and troops as numerous as the sands of the seashore. They marched up and encamped at Michmas, east of Beth-aven.

ve'ish yisra'el ra'u ki tsar-lo ki niggas ha'am vayyitkhabbe'u ha'am bamme'arot uvakhavakhim uvassela'im uvatserikhim uvabborot

When Israel’s side saw that they were in trouble—for the troops were hard pressed—the people hid in caves, among thorns, among rocks, in tunnels, and in cisterns.

ve'ivrim averu et-hayyarden erets gad vegilad vesha'ul odennu vaggilgal vekhol-ha'am kharedu akharayw

Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan, [to] the territory of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and the rest of the people rallied to him in alarm.

(vyykhl) [vayyokhel ] shivat yamim lammo'ed asher shemu'el velo-va shemu'el haggilgal vayyafets ha'am me'alayw

He waited seven days, the time that Samuel [had set]. But when Samuel failed to come to Gilgal, and the people began to scatter,

vayyomer sha'ul haggishu elay ha'olah vehashelamim vayya'al ha'olah

Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the sacrifice of well-being”; and he presented the burnt offering.

vayehi kekhalloto leha'alot ha'olah vehinneh shemu'el ba vayyetse sha'ul liqrato levarekho

He had just finished presenting the burnt offering when Samuel arrived; and Saul went out to meet him and welcome him.

vayyomer shemu'el meh asita vayyomer sha'ul ki-ra'iti khi-nafats ha'am me'alay ve'attah lo-vata lemo'ed hayyamim ufelishtim ne'esafim mikhmas

But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “I saw the people leaving me and scattering; you had not come at the appointed time, and the Philistines had gathered at Michmas.

va'omar attah yeredu felishtim elay haggilgal ufene Adonai lo khilliti va'etappaq va'a'aleh ha'olah

I thought the Philistines would march down against me at Gilgal before I had entreated GOD, so I forced myself to present the burnt offering.”

vayyomer shemu'el el-sha'ul niskaleta lo shamarta et-mitsvat Adonai elohekha asher tsivvakh ki attah hekhin Adonai et-mamlakhtekha el-yisra'el ad-olam

Samuel answered Saul, “You acted foolishly in not keeping the commandment that the ETERNAL your God laid upon you! Otherwise GOD would have established your dynasty over Israel forever.

ve'attah mamlakhtekha lo-taqum biqqesh Adonai lo ish kilvavo vayetsavvehu Adonai lenagid al-ammo ki lo shamarta et asher-tsivvekha Adonai

But now your dynasty will not endure. GOD will seek out a man with a more willing heart, and GOD will appoint him ruler over this covenanted people, because you did not abide by what GOD had commanded you.”

vayyaqom shemu'el vayya'al min-haggilgal givat binyamin vayyifqod sha'ul et-ha'am hannimtse'im immo keshesh me'ot ish

Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the troops who remained with him—about 600 strong.

vesha'ul veyonatan beno veha'am hannimtsa immam yoshevim begeva binyamin ufelishtim khanu vemikhmas

Saul and his son Jonathan, and the troops who remained with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines were encamped at Michmas.

vayyetse hammashkhit mimmakhaneh felishtim sheloshah rashim harosh ekhad yifneh el-derekh ofrah el-erets shu'al

The raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three columns: One column headed for the Ophrah road that leads to the district of Shual,

veharosh ekhad yifneh derekh bet khoron veharosh ekhad yifneh derekh haggevul hannishqaf al-ge hatsevo'im hammidbarah

another column headed for the Beth-horon road, and the third column headed for the border road that overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the desert.

vekharash lo yimmatse bekhol erets yisra'el ki-[ameru] (mr) felishtim pen ya'asu ha'ivrim kherev o khanit

No smith was to be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines were afraid that the Hebrews would make swords or spears.

vayyeredu khol-yisra'el happelishtim liltosh ish et-makharashto ve'et-eto ve'et-qardummo ve'et makhareshato

So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, their mattocks, axes, and colters sharpened.

vehayetah happetsirah fim lammakhareshot vela'etim velishlosh qilleshon ulehaqqardummim ulehatsiv haddarevan

The charge for sharpening was a pim for plowshares, mattocks, three-pronged forks, and axes, and for setting the goads.

vehayah beyom milkhemet velo nimtsa kherev vakhanit beyad kol-ha'am asher et-sha'ul ve'et-yonatan vattimmatse lesha'ul uleyonatan beno

Thus on the day of the battle, no sword or spear was to be found in the possession of any of the troops with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and Jonathan had them.

vayyetse matsav pelishtim el-ma'avar mikhmas

Now the Philistine garrison had marched out to the pass of Michmas.