与非利士人争战
扫罗登基的时候年三十☛“三十”是根据七十士译本的一些后期抄本，原文没有。岁，作以色列王二年☛“二年”指大卫受膏以前的年数，根据徒13．21，扫罗作王四十年。。
Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
2扫罗从以色列中选出三千人：二千跟随扫罗在密抹和伯特利山区，一千跟随约拿单在便雅悯的基比亚。其余的百姓，扫罗打发他们各自回自己的帐棚去了。Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
3约拿单攻击非利士人在迦巴的驻军，非利士人听见了这事。扫罗就在遍地吹角，说：“让希伯来人都听见。”☛“非利士人听见了...都听见。”原文另译“非利士人听见了这事，说：‘希伯来人反叛了！’扫罗就在遍地吹角。”And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
4以色列众人听见扫罗攻击非利士的驻军，又听见以色列为非利士人所憎恶，百姓就跟随扫罗，在吉甲集合。And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
5非利士人集合，要与以色列人作战。他们有战车三万辆，骑兵六千，士兵像海边的沙那样多。他们上来，在伯．亚文东边的密抹安营。And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.
6以色列人见自己危急，军队被围攻，百姓就藏在山洞、丛林、岩隙、地窖和深坑中。When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
7有些希伯来人过了约旦河，逃到迦得和基列地。扫罗还在吉甲，所有的人都战战兢兢地跟随他。扫罗不合法的献祭
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8扫罗照着撒母耳所定的日期等了七日。但是，撒母耳还没有来到吉甲，百姓就离开扫罗散去了。And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9于是扫罗说：“把燔祭和平安祭带到我这里来。”扫罗就献上燔祭。And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
10他刚献完燔祭，看哪，撒母耳就到了。扫罗出去迎接他，向他问安。And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
11撒母耳说：“你做了什么事啊？”扫罗说：“因为我见百姓离开我散去，你又不照所定的日期来到，而且非利士人已在密抹集合；And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
12我说：‘现在非利士人已经下到吉甲来攻击我，可是我还没有向耶和华祷告。’所以我就勉强献上燔祭。”Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13撒母耳对扫罗说：“你做了糊涂事了，没有遵守耶和华－你神吩咐你的命令。不然，耶和华会在以色列中坚立你的国度，直到永远。And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14现在你的国度必不长久。耶和华已经寻着一个合他心意的人，立他作百姓的君王，因为你没有遵守耶和华所吩咐你的。”But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
15撒母耳就起来，从吉甲上到便雅悯的基比亚。准备作战
扫罗数点跟随他的百姓，约有六百人。
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.
16扫罗和他儿子约拿单，以及跟随他们的百姓，都住在便雅悯的迦巴，非利士人却在密抹安营。And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
17有突击队从非利士营中出来，分成三队：一队往俄弗拉到书亚地去，And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
18一队往伯．和仑去，一队往边界，下望朝着旷野的洗波音谷。And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
19那时，以色列全地找不到一个铁匠，因为非利士人说：“恐怕希伯来人制造刀枪。”Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
20以色列众人要磨锄、犁、斧、铲，就各自下到非利士人那里去磨。But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
21磨锄或犁的价钱是三分之二舍客勒，磨斧或修整刺棒的价钱是三分之一舍客勒。Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
22所以到了战争的日子，所有跟随扫罗和约拿单的百姓找不到一个手里有刀有枪的，惟扫罗和他儿子约拿单有。So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
23非利士人的一队驻军出来，到密抹的隘口。And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.