Now the Philistinesassembledto fightwith Israel,30000chariotsand 6,000horsemen,and peoplelike the sandwhichis on the seashorein abundance;and they cameup and campedin Michmash,eastof Beth-aven.
indeedI will greatlyblessyou, and I will greatlymultiplyyour seedas the starsof the heavensand as the sandwhichis on the seashore;and your seedshall possessthe gateof their enemies.
"But I counselthat allIsraelbe surelygatheredto you, from Daneven to Beersheba,as the sandthat is by the seain abundance,and that you personallygointo battle.
The sonsof Israelwere musteredand were provisionedand wentto meetthem; and the sonsof Israelcampedbeforethem like twolittleflocksof goats,but the Arameansfilledthe country.
"Now,O LORDGod,Your promiseto my fatherDavidis fulfilled,for You have mademe kingovera peopleas numerousas the dustof the earth.
He has comeagainstAiath,He has passedthrough Migron;At Michmashhe depositedhis baggage.
"Your descendantswould have beenlike the sand,And your offspringlike its grains;Their namewould neverbe cutoffor destroyedfrom My presence."
"Their widowswill be morenumerousbefore Me Thanthe sandof the seas;I will bringagainst them, againstthe motherof a youngman,A destroyerat noonday;I will suddenlybringdownon her Anguishand dismay.
The inhabitantsof Samariawill fearFor the calfof Beth-aven.Indeed,its peoplewill mournfor it, And its idolatrouspriestswill cryout overit, Overits glory,sinceit has departedfrom it.
Thoughyou, Israel,playthe harlot,Do not let Judahbecomeguilty;Also do not goto Gilgal,Or goup to Beth-avenAnd takethe oath:"As the LORDlives!"
Blowthe hornin Gibeah,The trumpetin Ramah.Soundan alarmat Beth-aven:"Behindyou, Benjamin!"
Isaiahcriesout concerningIsrael,"THOUGHTHE NUMBEROF THE SONSOF ISRAELBE LIKETHE SANDOF THE SEA,IT IS THE REMNANTTHAT WILL BE SAVED;
They cameout, they and alltheir armieswith them, [as] manypeopleas the sandthat is on the seashore,with verymanyhorsesand chariots.
Their borderon the northsidewas from the Jordan,then the borderwentup to the sideof Jerichoon the north,and wentup through the hillcountrywestward,and it endedat the wildernessof Beth-aven.
Now Joshuasentmenfrom Jerichoto Ai,whichis nearBeth-aven,eastof Bethel,and saidto them, "Goup and spyout the land."So the menwentup and spiedout Ai.
Now the Midianitesand the Amalekitesand allthe sonsof the eastwere lyingin the valleyas numerousas locusts;and their camelswere withoutnumber,as numerousas the sandon the seashore.
But Samuelsaid,"Whathave you done?"And Saulsaid,"BecauseI sawthat the peoplewere scatteringfrom me, and that you did not comewithin the appointeddays,and that the Philistineswere assemblingat Michmash,
Now Saulchosefor himself 3,000men of Israel,of which 2,000were with Saulin Michmashand in the hillcountryof Bethel,while 1,000were with Jonathanat Gibeahof Benjamin.But he sentawaythe restof the people,eachto his tent.
So the LORDdeliveredIsraelthat day,and the battlespreadbeyondBeth-aven.
Now the waragainstthe Philistineswas severeallthe daysof Saul;and when Saulsawanymightymanor anyvaliantman,he attachedhim to his staff.
Now the Philistinesgatheredtheir armiesfor battle;and they were gatheredat Socohwhichbelongs to Judah,and they campedbetweenSocohand Azekah,in Ephes-dammim.
So the Philistineswere subduedand they didnot comeanymorewithin the borderof Israel.And the handof the LORDwas against the Philistinesallthe daysof Samuel.
