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

Israel Unarmed

¹⁶ Now Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were with them, were staying in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Mikmash. ¹⁷ Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual. ¹⁸ And another company turned the way to Beth Horon. And another company turned to the way of the border that looks to the Valley of Zeboyim toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel. For the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make for themselves swords or spears.” ²⁰ So all the children of Israel went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plow-point, his axe, his adze and his hoe. ²¹ The sharpening charge was two-thirds of a shekel^[a] for plow-points, axes, pitchforks, and adzes, and to fix an ox-goad.

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