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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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 13:17 Or along the road to
  2. 1 Samuel 13:18 Or along the road to
  3. 1 Samuel 13:18 Or along the border road
  4. 1 Samuel 13:20 So LXX; MT, plow
  5. 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
  6. 1 Samuel 13:21 The meaning of MT is uncertain
  7. 1 Samuel 13:22 Lit. were found with