15 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin . And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men . 16 Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people who were present with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash . 17 And the raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three companies : one company turned toward e Ophrah , to the land of Shual , 18 and another company turned toward Beth-horon , and another company turned toward the border which overlooks e the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness . 19 Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel , for the Philistines said , "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears ." 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines , each to sharpen his plowshare , his mattock , his axe , and his hoe . 21 The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares , the mattocks , the forks e , and the axes , and to fix the hoes . 22 So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan , but they were found with Saul and his son Jonathan . 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:15-23
Commentary on 1 Samuel 13:15-23
(Read 1 Samuel 13:15-23)
See how politic the Philistines were when they had power; they not only prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war, but obliged them to depend upon their enemies, even for instruments of husbandry. How impolitic Saul was, who did not, in the beginning of his reign, set himself to redress this. Want of true sense always accompanies want of grace. Sins which appear to us very little, have dangerous consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenceless nation; much more those who are destitute of the whole armour of God.