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Chapter 13 records the "backsliding" of Saul. The difference in the above resources concerning Saul may very well be due in part to the first verse of this chapter. In the original Hebrew, two numbers were omitted. The original Hebrew reads, "Saul was (blank) years old when he began to reign and he reigned (blank) and 2 years over Israel." Saul appears to have been born in 1054 B.C. and died in 1004 B.C. According to Robinson's Bible time line, Saul was made king in 1025 BC, at the age of 29 and died in 1004 BC at the age of 50, having reigned some 21 years. The length of his reign varies from 20 to 32 years depending on the resource. Some translations simply say, "Saul reigned 1 year and in the second year of his reign he did ---"etc. It appears that Saul was content during the first year of his reign to do nothing. We must remember that he was weak, unqualified in administration and indiscreet in his affairs. So in his second year he began to make very un-wise decisions.
In Saul's first decision we see stupidity, total disregard for his troops and treachery, I.E. disregard for previous peace treaties and agreements. He chose 3,000 men from the 330,000 that had stood by him in Chapter 11 and sent the remaining 327,000 home. He put 2,000 men under his command and the remaining 1,000 under the command of his son, Jonathan. Jonathan took his men and destroyed the garrison of Philistines at Geba. This may have been the garrison of Philistines spoken of in Chapter 10 who had been given permission to stay at Gibeath, after they were defeated, by Samuel.
The garrison of Philistines at Geba was there by agreement with Samuel and Saul had no right to destroy them. This dishonored Israel and made them "stink" in the eyes of the Philistines.
As the result of this treachery, the Philistines assembled their armies at Mish-mash. They had 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and soldiers like the sands of the sea. Saul assembled his army at Gilgal in Benjamin. When the troops of Israel saw the size of the Philistine Army, they tried to hide, some even crossed the Jordan River into Gad, a distance of about 5 miles. Saul stayed at Gilgal where he waited for Samuel to come and make a sacrifice to the Lord, but, when Samuel delayed, Saul did it himself. When Samuel did arrive, he called Saul a "fool".
Saul had only been king for 2 years and already he had disobeyed God and as the result, God took from his sons the linage of the thrown of Israel. Samuel told Saul that God had already chosen the next king of Israel and it wasn't one of his sons.
Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah. Saul stayed at Gilgal and a count of his men showed that only 600 remained. Fortunately, the Philistines did not attack; they still feared Samuel and the God of Israel. They did, however, send raiding parties into 3 areas of Israel. One, northwest, toward Ophrah (5 miles N-E of Bethel) one, southwest, toward Beth-horon and one, south, toward the border between Benjamin and Judah near the Dead Sea.
With the exception of Saul and Jonathan, Israel's Army had neither sword nor spear. None were available because the Philistines would not allow the Hebrews to have black smiths. Any metal work or sharpening of tools had to be done by Philistine black smiths.
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