Now noblacksmithcould be foundin allthe landof Israel,for the Philistinessaid,"Otherwisethe Hebrewswill makeswordsorspears."
Then he ledawayinto exileallJerusalemand allthe captainsand allthe mightymenof valor,tenthousandcaptives,and allthe craftsmenand the smiths.Noneremainedexceptthe poorestpeopleof the land.
"Behold,I Myselfhave createdthe smithwho blowsthe fireof coalsAnd bringsout a weaponfor its work;And I have createdthe destroyerto ruin.
AfterNebuchadnezzarkingof Babylonhad carriedawaycaptiveJeconiahthe sonof Jehoiakim,kingof Judah,and the officialsof Judahwith the craftsmenand smithsfrom Jerusalemand had broughtthem to Babylon,the LORDshowedme: behold,twobasketsof figssetbeforethe templeof the LORD!
(This was afterKingJeconiahand the queenmother,the courtofficials,the princesof Judahand Jerusalem,the craftsmenand the smithshad departedfrom Jerusalem.)
"Newgodswere chosen;Thenwar[was] in the gates.Not a shieldor a spearwas seenAmong fortythousandin Israel.
So allIsraelwentdownto the Philistines,eachto sharpenhis plowshare,his mattock,his axe,and his hoe.
