Study Desk

Then Samuel left Gilgal ^(F40) and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.

Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah ^(F41) in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Micmash.

Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual,

another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the desert.

Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!"

So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, mattocks, axes and sickles ^(F42) sharpened.

The price was two thirds of a shekel ^(F43) for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.

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