1Saul was a year old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel.2Saul chose three thousand men from Israel for himself. Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and Mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, each man to his tent.3Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba. When the Philistines heard, Saul sounded the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear."4All Israel heard the report that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines and that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. So the people rallied behind Saul at Gilgal.5The Philistines assembled to fight against Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore in abundance. They went up and encamped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.6When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the people were hard pressed, they hid in caves, thickets, rocks, strongholds, and pits.7Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, while Saul remained at Gilgal and all the people followed him trembling.8Saul waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to scatter from him.9Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering and the peace offerings to me." So he offered the burnt offering.10As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet him and to bless him.11Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul answered, "I saw that the people were scattering from me, and you did not come at the appointed time of the days, while the Philistines were gathering at Michmash."12I thought, "The Philistines will now 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.13Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God that he gave you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever."14But now your kingdom will not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and has appointed him leader over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.15Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were with him; about six hundred men remained.