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1 Samuel 13:2

1 Samuel 13:1 nasb — Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel.

NASB

"Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel."

— 1 Samuel 13:1, NASB

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1 Samuel 13:1 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 13 — Context

1

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,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.

1 Samuel 13:1 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 13:1 say?
1 Samuel 13:1 in the NASB reads: “Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel.”
Where is 1 Samuel 13:1 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 13:1 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 13, verse 1.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 13:1.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 13:1 in?
1 Samuel 13:1 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 13:1?
1 Samuel 13:1 reads (NASB): “Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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