Add parallel Print Page Options

15 And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them abode in Gibeah of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17 And the despoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual,

18 and another company turned the way to Bethhoron, and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.”

20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his plowshare and his coulter and his ax and his mattock.

21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks and for the coulters and for the forks and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.

22 So it came to pass on the day of battle that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but with Saul and with Jonathan his son were they found.

Read full chapter

15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin.

And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual; 18 and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock; 21 [a]yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads. 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 13:21 Or, when the edges of the mattocks . . . and of the axes were blunt. The Hebrew text is obscure.

15 Then Samuel left Gilgal[a] and went up to Gibeah(A) in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.(B)

Israel Without Weapons

16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah[b](C) in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17 Raiding(D) parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah(E) in the vicinity of Shual, 18 another toward Beth Horon,(F) and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim(G) facing the wilderness.

19 Not a blacksmith(H) could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!(I) 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[c] sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[d] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[e] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.

22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan(J) had a sword or spear(K) in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 13:15 Hebrew; Septuagint Gilgal and went his way; the rest of the people went after Saul to meet the army, and they went out of Gilgal
  2. 1 Samuel 13:16 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
  3. 1 Samuel 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plow points
  4. 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/4 ounce or about 8 grams
  5. 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/8 ounce or about 4 grams