1 Samuel 13 20

1 Samuel 13:20 kjv

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

1 Samuel 13:20 nkjv

But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man's plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle;

1 Samuel 13:20 niv

So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened.

1 Samuel 13:20 esv

But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle,

1 Samuel 13:20 nlt

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

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 20 Meaning

This verse reveals the pervasive technological and economic control the Philistines exercised over Israel. Due to the Philistine monopoly on ironworking and smiths, all Israelites were forced to descend to Philistine territory simply to have their essential agricultural tools, such as plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles, sharpened. This illustrates Israel's profound state of subjugation and dependency, underscoring their vulnerability and disarmed state in daily life, beyond just military preparedness.

1 Samuel 13 20 Context

First Samuel Chapter 13 begins with King Saul establishing his reign and organizing an army to confront the Philistine threat. Jonathan, Saul's son, initiates an attack on a Philistine garrison at Geba, provoking a massive Philistine military response. This overwhelming Philistine force causes fear and desertion among the Israelite troops. Saul, under immense pressure and fearing his remaining men would scatter, disobeys Samuel's instructions by offering a burnt offering himself instead of waiting for the prophet. Samuel arrives, rebukes Saul, and prophesies the loss of his kingdom. Amidst this military and spiritual crisis, verses 19-22 detail Israel's dire technological disadvantage: the Philistines had a monopoly on iron smelting and smithing. Therefore, not only could Israelites not forge their own weapons, but they were also dependent on the Philistines even for sharpening their basic farming tools, which this verse highlights. This severe economic and military dependency meant that at the time of battle, only King Saul and his son Jonathan possessed iron weapons (1 Sam 13:22), amplifying the desperation of their situation and setting the stage for divine intervention.

1 Samuel 13 20 Word analysis

• So all Israel (כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol Yisrael): This phrase emphasizes the pervasive nature of the dependency, affecting the entire nation. It highlights that no segment of the population was exempt from this form of economic subjugation.
• went down (יָרַד, yarad): The Hebrew verb yarad literally means to go down, indicating a geographical descent from the hilly Israelite territories to the Philistine plain (Shephelah or coastal region). Metaphorically, it can also signify a decline in status, submission, or dependence, fitting the context of Israel's subjugated state.
• to the Philistines (אֶל פְּלִשְׁתִּים, el Pelishtim): Explicitly identifies the oppressive entity. The Philistines maintained their control by restricting the flow of advanced technology (iron) and skilled labor (smiths) to the Israelites.
• every man (אִישׁ, ’ish): Reinforces the individual and widespread necessity, showing that this dependency was not just for the government or military but impacted every common household and farmer.
• to sharpen (לִלְטוֹשׁ, liltosh): From the root לָטַשׁ, latash, meaning to sharpen, grind, or whet. This specific action indicates the need for specialized tools and skills that the Israelites lacked due to the Philistine monopoly on metallurgy and trained smiths (as stated in 1 Sam 13:19). It wasn't about acquiring new tools, but maintaining existing ones.
• his plowshare (מַחֲרֶשְׁתּוֹ, machareshō): A heavy iron blade used to turn over soil for agriculture. It represents a fundamental tool for sustenance and farming, highlighting how even the means of food production were subject to Philistine control.
• his mattock (אֵיתוֹ, ’eto): A digging tool, typically for grubbing roots, breaking up hard ground, or loosening soil. Like the plowshare, it is essential for farming and other basic labor.
• his axe (קַרְדֻּמּוֹ, qardummō): A tool for chopping wood, used for fuel, construction, and various domestic purposes. Its inclusion emphasizes the broad impact of the Philistine monopoly on everyday life, beyond just agricultural needs.
• and his sickle (וּמַגָּל, umaggāl): A curved blade used for harvesting grain. Its mention completes the picture of critical agricultural implements, demonstrating the Philistines' comprehensive control over the entire Israelite food chain from tilling to harvesting.

• "all Israel went down to the Philistines": This phrase encapsulates the widespread humiliation and forced subservience of the Israelite nation. It is a visual representation of their political and economic inferiority under Philistine dominance.
• "every man to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle": This specific enumeration of common farming tools powerfully conveys the depth of Philistine economic leverage. It wasn't about weapons for war, but essential implements for daily survival, emphasizing the total economic subjugation and the pervasive nature of the Philistine monopoly on metallurgy, which denied the Israelites even basic self-sufficiency. This also sets the stage for how miraculous God's deliverance must be when they cannot even forge their own agricultural tools, let alone weapons.

1 Samuel 13 20 Bonus section

• The high price charged by the Philistines for sharpening and smithing, as implied in 1 Samuel 13:21 (a pim for sharpening), underscores the extreme economic exploitation Israel endured.
• This specific vulnerability to the Philistine iron monopoly serves as a significant background for understanding Jonathan's audacious and faith-filled attack in the next chapter (1 Samuel 14:1-15), where the technological disparity makes his victory even more miraculous and highlights God's power over human weakness.
• The absence of blacksmiths (mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:19) suggests a deliberate Philistine policy to prevent Israel from developing its own military or economic independence.
• This situation echoes the broader biblical theme of God allowing foreign oppression as a consequence of Israel's disobedience or lack of faith, subsequently delivering them when they turn to Him.

1 Samuel 13 20 Commentary

First Samuel 13:20 profoundly illustrates Israel's dire state under Philistine oppression, an often-overlooked detail that magnifies the challenges faced by Saul and the nation. The verse acts as a stark testament to the Philistines' technological and economic supremacy, particularly their monopoly on ironworking. Forcing Israelites to rely on their adversaries for the most basic and essential tools for farming—plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles—meant total economic subjugation. This was not merely an inconvenience; it signified Israel's complete dependence for its very survival and food production. It underscored the vulnerability and weakness of the nascent monarchy and served as a powerful literary device to highlight the need for divine intervention. Such conditions set the scene for later accounts of God empowering individuals like Jonathan or David to achieve victories not by conventional military might, but through miraculous divine assistance, proving that the battle belongs to the Lord, regardless of human technological disparities.