131 Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign , and he reigned forty two years over Israel . 2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 e men of Israel , of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel , while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin . But he sent away the rest of the people , each to his tent . 3 Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba , and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land , saying , "Let the Hebrews hear ." 4 All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines , and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines . The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal . 5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel , 30,000 e chariots and 6,000 e horsemen , and people like the sand which is on the seashore e in abundance ; and they came up and camped in Michmash , east of Beth-aven . 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed ), then the people hid themselves in caves , in thickets , in cliffs , in cellars , and in pits . 7 Also some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead . But as for Saul , he was still in Gilgal , and all the people followed him trembling .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:1-7
Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:1-7
(Read 1 Samuel 13:1-7)
Saul reigned one year, and nothing particular happened; but in his second year the events recorded in this chapter took place. For above a year he gave the Philistine time to prepare for war, and to weaken and to disarm the Israelites. When men are lifted up in self-sufficiency, they are often led into folly. The chief advantages of the enemies of the church are derived from the misconduct of its professed friends. When Saul at length sounded an alarm, the people, dissatisfied with his management, or terrified by the power of the enemy, did not come to him, or speedily deserted him.