³ Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites^(A) and other eastern peoples^(B) invaded the country. ⁴ They camped on the land and ruined the crops^(C) all the way to Gaza^(D) and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. ⁵ They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts.^(E) It was impossible to count them or their camels;^(F) they invaded the land to ravage it.

⁵ The Philistines assembled^(A) to fight Israel, with three thousand^[a] chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand^(B) on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash,^(C) east of Beth Aven.^{(D) 6} When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid^(E) in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.^{(F) 7} Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad^(G) and Gilead.

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking^(H) with fear. ⁸ He waited seven^(I) days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.