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.