7. others crossed the River Jordan into the territories of Gad and Gilead.Saul was still at Gilgal, and the people with him were trembling with fear.
8. He waited seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him to do, but Samuel still had not come to Gilgal. The people began to desert Saul,
9. so he said to them, “Bring me the burnt sacrifices and the fellowship sacrifices.” He offered a burnt sacrifice,
10. and just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and welcome him,
11. but Samuel said, “What have you done?”Saul answered, “The people were deserting me, and you had not come when you said you would; besides that, the Philistines are gathering at Michmash.
12. So I thought, ‘The Philistines are going to attack me here in Gilgal, and I have not tried to win the Lord's favour.’ So I felt I had to offer a sacrifice.”
13. “That was a foolish thing to do,” Samuel answered. “You have not obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. If you had obeyed, he would have let you and your descendants rule over Israel for ever.
14. But now your rule will not continue. Because you have disobeyed him, the Lord will find the kind of man he wants and make him ruler of his people.”
15. Samuel left Gilgal and went on his way. The rest of the people followed Saul as he went to join his soldiers. They went from Gilgal to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. Saul inspected his troops, about 600 men.
16. Saul, his son Jonathan, and their men camped in Geba in the territory of Benjamin; the Philistine camp was at Michmash.
17. The Philistine soldiers went out on raids from their camp in three groups: one group went towards Ophrah in the territory of Shual,
18. another went towards Beth Horon, and the other one went to the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim and the wilderness.
19. There were no blacksmiths in Israel because the Philistines were determined to keep the Hebrews from making swords and spears.
20. (The Israelites had to go to the Philistines to get their ploughs, hoes, axes, and sickles sharpened;