¹⁵ Then Samuel went^[a] from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba^(A) of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. ¹⁷ Raiding parties^(B) went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah^(C) road leading to the land of Shual. ¹⁸ The next division headed toward the Beth-horon^(D) road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Zeboim Valley^(E) toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel^(F) because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears.” ²⁰ So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.^{[b] 21} The price was two-thirds of a shekel^[c] for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on a cattle prod. ²² So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul^(G) and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.