1 Samuel 13:20

Israel without Weapons · 1 Samuel 13:16–23
Read 1 Samuel 13

Translations

Modern
Instead, all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.
Traditional
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
Literal
And all Israel would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man his plowshare, and his mattock, and his ax, and his sickle.
Latin
Descendebat ergo omnis Israël ad Philisthiim, ut exacueret unusquisque vomerem suum, et ligonem, et securim, et sarculum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Instead, all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.

Notes

no blacksmith: The Philistines prevented the Israelites from having weapons by controlling all the iron needed to make them. Iron technology was new in Canaan. It likely developed in the Aegean region and was brought to Canaan by seafaring people, like the Philistines.

Theme notes and profiles

Jonathan Samuel Saul The Philistines

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan

Glossary

Agriculture Bethel (Place), Bethelite David Mattock Minerals and Metals Philistia, Philistines Samuel, Books of First and Second Saul Sword

Topics

Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Axe Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Mattock Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Plough Agriculture: Facts About Ax: An Implement Iron: Made Into: Implements for Husbandry Mattock: General Scriptures Concerning Military Arms of Conquered Nations Taken Away to Prevent Rebellion Plow: Shares of, Sharpened by the Smiths of the Philistines The Philistines: Invaded the Land of Israel with a Great Army