1 Samuel 13:16-23

16Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash.

17Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual,

18another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness.

19There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.

20So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith.

21The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax or making the point of an ox goad.

22So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.

23The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.