Two-thirds of the people in the land will be hurt and die. But one-third of them will survive.
1 Samuel 13:21 - Easy To Read Version The Philistine blacksmiths charged 1/3 ounce [122] {of silver} for sharpening plows and hoes. And they charged 1/6 ounce [123] {of silver} for sharpening picks, axes and the iron tip on oxgoads. [124] Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And the price for plowshares and mattocks was a pim, and a third of a shekel for axes and for setting goads [with resulting blunt edges on the sickles, mattocks, forks, axes, and goads.] American Standard Version (1901) yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads. Common English Bible The cost was two-thirds of a shekel for plowshares and mattocks, but one-third of a shekel for sharpening axes and for setting goads. Catholic Public Domain Version For their plow blades, and pick axes, and pitch forks, and axes had become blunt, and even the handles needed to be repaired. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version So that their shares, and their spades, and their forks, and their axes were blunt, even to the goad, which was to be mended. |
Two-thirds of the people in the land will be hurt and die. But one-third of them will survive.
Only the Philistines could sharpen iron tools. So if the Israelites needed to sharpen their plows, hoes, axes or sickles, they had to go to the Philistines.
So, on the day of battle, none of the Israelite soldiers with Saul had {iron} swords or spears. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had {iron} weapons.