seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Samuel 13:15 Then Samuel left Gilgal[d] and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.
16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah[e] in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness.
19 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!” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[f] sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[g] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[h] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
22 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.
16 Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah[e] in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness.
19 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!” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[f] sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[g] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[h] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
22 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.
d. 1 Samuel 13:15 Hebrew; Septuagint Gilgal and went his way; the rest of the people went after Saul to meet the army, and they went out of Gilgal
e. 1 Samuel 13:16 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
f. 1 Samuel 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plow points
g. 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/4 ounce or about 8 grams
h. 1 Samuel 13:21 That is, about 1/8 ounce or about 4 grams
This is from the easy English site.
Saul’s army was very small now. Saul and Jonathan joined together so that all the Israelites fought as one army. But the Philistine army divided into 3 groups. This was a common way for an army to attack. Each group went in a different direction. Ophrah was in the north. Beth Horon was in the west. The valley of Zeboim was in the south east. But the Bible does not say how far they went.
Saul became king more than 3000 years ago. At that time, people were learning how to make tools from iron. People used to make tools from wood and stone. Then they learned how to make metal called bronze. But iron was better because it was much stronger. And iron tools stayed sharp for a long time. A ‘blacksmith’ was a man who made iron tools. He also made blunt tools sharp again.
The tools in verses 20-21 were farm tools. A farmer used a hoe to get weeds out of the ground. A sickle was like a large curved knife. A farmer used it to cut down his grain. An ox-goad was a long stick with a sharp metal point. The ox pulled a plough. If the ox stopped, the farmer pushed the goad into the ox’s bottom. That made the ox start to walk again. The Philistines were skilled at making iron tools. They sold the tools to the people who lived near them, including the Israelites. But the Philistines did not teach anyone how to become blacksmiths. Therefore, everyone had to go to the Philistines when their tools became blunt. The Philistines charged a very high price to make the tools sharp again. No one had invented money yet, so people paid with pieces of silver.
The Philistines controlled the Israelites in this way. The Philistines knew that the Israelites could not make swords or spears. A spear is like a large arrow that a soldier throws. Only Saul and Jonathan had a sword and spear. The other soldiers probably had bows and arrows. The Philistines had a very large army. They had swords, spears and chariots. And they knew that this was a disadvantage for the Israelites.
Saul became king more than 3000 years ago. At that time, people were learning how to make tools from iron. People used to make tools from wood and stone. Then they learned how to make metal called bronze. But iron was better because it was much stronger. And iron tools stayed sharp for a long time. A ‘blacksmith’ was a man who made iron tools. He also made blunt tools sharp again.
The tools in verses 20-21 were farm tools. A farmer used a hoe to get weeds out of the ground. A sickle was like a large curved knife. A farmer used it to cut down his grain. An ox-goad was a long stick with a sharp metal point. The ox pulled a plough. If the ox stopped, the farmer pushed the goad into the ox’s bottom. That made the ox start to walk again. The Philistines were skilled at making iron tools. They sold the tools to the people who lived near them, including the Israelites. But the Philistines did not teach anyone how to become blacksmiths. Therefore, everyone had to go to the Philistines when their tools became blunt. The Philistines charged a very high price to make the tools sharp again. No one had invented money yet, so people paid with pieces of silver.
The Philistines controlled the Israelites in this way. The Philistines knew that the Israelites could not make swords or spears. A spear is like a large arrow that a soldier throws. Only Saul and Jonathan had a sword and spear. The other soldiers probably had bows and arrows. The Philistines had a very large army. They had swords, spears and chariots. And they knew that this was a disadvantage for the Israelites.
Now wait a minute.... are we about to get a lesson on how powerful God is? This commentary talks about the ox-goad with a sharp metal point.... but it also says that only Saul and his son Jonathan had spears..... We should remember what the Judge named Shamgar did with an ox-goad in Judges 3:31.
This is from a site named usefulbible.com.
We have often referred to this passage as we have studied the Book of 1 Samuel. It shows clearly the kind of power that the Philistines (the nation called Philistia) had over Israel at this time.
The Philistines did not establish their own government to rule Israel. They allowed the people in Israel to govern themselves. When the people in Israel appointed a king, the Philistines did not stop them. Even when King Saul gathered an army to fight Ammon, the Philistines did not stop him (11:6-8). In fact, they probably approved. Saul’s success against Ammon made the Philistines’ own country safer.
However, the Philistines were still controlling Israel. They would not allow anyone in Israel to work with iron. For that purpose, they sent groups of their soldiers into Israel. Those soldiers established bases at Gibeah (10:5) and Geba (13:3), and probably at other places too.
That action gave them two advantages:
The Philistines did not establish their own government to rule Israel. They allowed the people in Israel to govern themselves. When the people in Israel appointed a king, the Philistines did not stop them. Even when King Saul gathered an army to fight Ammon, the Philistines did not stop him (11:6-8). In fact, they probably approved. Saul’s success against Ammon made the Philistines’ own country safer.
However, the Philistines were still controlling Israel. They would not allow anyone in Israel to work with iron. For that purpose, they sent groups of their soldiers into Israel. Those soldiers established bases at Gibeah (10:5) and Geba (13:3), and probably at other places too.
That action gave them two advantages:
(1) Although Israel’s people could not make iron tools, they still needed them. They were agricultural workers, and they needed good tools. So they had to go to Philistia. The Philistines sold these tools, and they made the tools sharp. The prices were expensive. It was a good trade for the men in Philistia.
(2) Israel’s army did not have the proper equipment. In particular, swords were very rare in Israel. The result was that Israel’s army was weaker than Philistia’s army. It seemed unlikely that Israel’s men could ever defeat the Philistines. So, the Philistines would continue to control Israel in this manner.http://www.usefulbible.com/1samuel/how-philistines-controlled-israel.htm
(2) Israel’s army did not have the proper equipment. In particular, swords were very rare in Israel. The result was that Israel’s army was weaker than Philistia’s army. It seemed unlikely that Israel’s men could ever defeat the Philistines. So, the Philistines would continue to control Israel in this manner.http://www.usefulbible.com/1samuel/how-philistines-controlled-israel.htm
Just a note here.... according to the jewishvirtuallibrary.org these Philistines are related to the Palistinians who are a thorn in Israel's side still.
Wow.... the Philistines [Palestinians] control the availability to weapons....
Finally... this is from Bible.org.
I doubt if Saul’s disobedience in making the burnt offerings is one isolated event. Rather, it is likely the climax, the culmination, of a long history of disobedience. As previously pointed out, Saul knows that his duty as Israel’s king is to do battle with the Philistines and the other surrounding nations who oppress the people of God. Day after day, month after month, Saul seems to close his eyes to the suffering of his people and to the presence of the Philistines stationed in Israel. Saul’s disobedience regarding the sacrifices at Gilgal is no sudden sin -- a complete shock to all. It is the logical, almost inevitable outcome of a lifestyle of disobedience. This crisis only shows Saul up for who he is (or is not). This is the way it is with us as well.
So the pretty boy king isn't doing what he should be doing? Well that's just crazy....
