1 Samuel 13:19 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:15-23

Here, 1. Samuel departs in displeasure. Saul has set up for himself, and now he is left to himself: Samuel gat him from Gilgal (1 Sam. 13:15), and it does not appear that he either prayed with Saul or directed him. Yet in going up to Gibeah of Benjamin, which was Saul's city, he intimated that he had not quite abandoned him, but waited to do him a kindness another time. Or he went to the college of the prophets there, to pray for Saul when he did not think fit to pray with him. 2. Saul goes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:19

Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel ,.... The Philistines, when they ruled over them, having removed them into their own country, and forbid any to learn or exercise that trade in Israel: for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make swords or spears : this they did to prevent their having arms, and the use of them, that they might not rebel against them, and fight with them, and overcome them; it was a piece of policy to keep them subject to them; so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:19

Now there was no smith found - It is very likely that in the former wars the Philistines carried away all the smiths from Israel, as Porsenna did in the peace which he granted to the Romans, not permitting any iron to be forged except for the purposes of agriculture: " Ne ferro, nisi in agricultura, uterentur ." The Chaldeans did the same to the Jews in the time of Nebuchadnezzar; they carried away all the artificers, 2 Kings 24:14 ; Jeremiah 24:1 ; Jeremiah 29:2 . And in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:17-23

The ramifications of evil. The facts are— 1 . In the absence of Divine interposition, and consequent on Saul's inability to resist advance, the Philistines develop their forces and plunder certain districts of country. 2 . As a matter of policy on their part, and as one result of Saul's transgression, the Philistines deprive the people of the ordinary means of conducting warfare. 3 . This state of things necessitates Saul's protracted inactivity, and inflicts considerable... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:19

There was no smith. This accounts for the contemptuous disregard of Saul by the Philistines. The people were disarmed, and resistance impossible. Apparently this policy had been long followed; but we need fuller information of what had happened between Samuel's victory at Mizpah and Saul's appointment as king, to enable us to understand the evident weakness of Israel at this time. But probably this description applies fully only to the districts of Benjamin, near the Philistines, The people... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:19

There was no smith - This was the result of the fierce inroads described in the preceding verses, and the method adopted to make the Philistine conquests permanent. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 13:19

1 Samuel 13:19. There was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel To this miserable condition the Philistines had reduced them during the forty years’ tyranny which they exercised over them, as we read Judges 13:1. But after Samuel had put an end to that tyranny, by the great overthrow which he gave the Philistines at Eben-ezer, it seems something strange they had not restored their artificers. But the sloth of the Israelites appears in their whole story: and it was not easy, in so... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:15-23

War against the Philistines (13:15-14:46)After Samuel left Gilgal, Saul took his troops and joined with the other section of the Israelite army, which was under Jonathan. Together they prepared for the battle against the Philistines (15-18). The Philistines were confident of victory, partly because for many years they had so controlled metal-working activities in the area that the Israelites owned hardly any weapons. This enabled the Philistines to raid throughout Israel without fear of strong... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 13:19

no smith . This explains why Ehud had to make his own dagger (Judges 3:16 ); why Shamgar had only an ox-goad (Judges 3:31 ); why Samson "had nothingin his hand" (Judges 14:5-6 ); and why "not a shield or spear among 40,000 in Israel" (Judges 5:9 ). In other days we read of how many "drew sword". land. Some codices read "bounds". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:19

CONFISCATING THE WEAPONS OF ISRAEL"Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make for themselves swords or spears"; but every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle; and the charge was a pym for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. So on the day of the battle, there was neither... read more