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1 Samuel 13:15-22
New International Version
1 Samuel 13:15-22
New International Version
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.
Footnotes
- 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
- 1 Samuel 13:16 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- 1 Samuel 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plow points
- 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/4 ounce or about 8 grams
- 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/8 ounce or about 4 grams
1 Samuel 13:15-22
International Standard Version
1 Samuel 13:15-22
International Standard Version
15 Then Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul mustered the people present with him, about 600 men. 16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people present with them remained in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Michmash. 17 Raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three companies. One company turned in the direction of[a] Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 one company turned in the direction of[b] Beth-horon, while the one company turned toward the border[c] that overlooks the valley of Zeboiim toward the desert.
The Philistine Monopoly on Metal Working
19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines thought, “This will keep the Hebrews from making swords or spears.” 20 Everyone in Israel would have to go to the Philistines so each person could sharpen his plow, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle.[d] 21 The charge was one pin[e] for plows, mattocks, three pronged forks,[f] and axes, or for setting the goads. 22 On the day of battle, none of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan were armed with swords or spears, but Saul and his son Jonathan did have[g] them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 13:17 Or along the road to
- 1 Samuel 13:18 Or along the road to
- 1 Samuel 13:18 Or along the border road
- 1 Samuel 13:20 So LXX; MT, plow
- 1 Samuel 13:21 I.e. a unit of measurement equal to about 2/3 of a shekel, weighing about 0.3 ounces; one shekel weighed about 0.4 ounces
- 1 Samuel 13:21 The meaning of MT is uncertain
- 1 Samuel 13:22 Lit. were found with
New International Version (NIV) 
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International Standard Version (ISV) 
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