1 Samuel 13 21

1 Samuel 13:21 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 13:21 nkjv

and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads.

1 Samuel 13:21 niv

The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.

1 Samuel 13:21 esv

and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads.

1 Samuel 13:21 nlt

The 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.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 21 Meaning

1 Samuel 13:21 illustrates the economic oppression Israel faced under Philistine dominion. The verse specifies the burdensome costs of sharpening essential agricultural and household tools, quantifying the severe technological and financial control exercised by the Philistines. It underscores Israel's vulnerable position, lacking independence even for basic livelihood.

1 Samuel 13 21 Context

Chapter 13 of 1 Samuel narrates the early challenges of King Saul's reign, particularly the ongoing conflict with the Philistines. The immediate context of verse 21 follows Saul's presumptuous act of offering a burnt offering without Samuel (vv. 8-12), leading to the pronouncement of his kingdom not enduring (vv. 13-14). Verses 19-20 set the stage by explaining the Philistine monopoly on ironworking: "Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had said, 'Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.'" This verse (13:21) then details the oppressive economic consequence of this monopoly, quantifying the specific costs of sharpening basic agricultural implements. Historically, this period marks Israel's Iron Age IIA (c. 1000-925 BCE), where the Philistines, originating from the Aegean, possessed superior iron technology compared to the largely agrarian Israel. The verse highlights the Israelite vulnerability and their dependence on their oppressors even for their livelihoods.

1 Samuel 13 21 Word analysis

• And the price of the filing: This introduces the cost component. "Filing" or "sharpening" here is from the Hebrew word פֶצֶר (petzer), which can refer to the dull point or edge of an agricultural implement that needed resharpening or reforging. It was not just a light filing, but re-shaping and re-hardening of the metal, a specialized skill. The term highlights the need for blacksmithing services, controlled by the Philistines.
• was a pim: Hebrew פִים (pîm). This is a precise unit of weight, equivalent to approximately two-thirds of a shekel (about 0.25 oz or 7.8 grams). Its mention is significant as "pim" weights have been archaeologically discovered in Israel, corroborating the biblical text's historical accuracy. This specific, obscure unit demonstrates the precision of the biblical account, detailing the fixed cost for metalwork imposed by the Philistines. It was an exploitative and possibly fixed-rate charge.
• and for the mattocks: Hebrew מַחְרֵשׁוֹת (machareshoot). These were agricultural digging tools, similar to hoes or pickaxes, used for breaking up and cultivating soil. Their need for sharpening points to constant use in subsistence farming.
• and for the coulters: Hebrew אֵתִים (ettim). These refer to ploughshares, the sharp blade of a plow that cuts through the earth. Keeping them sharp was crucial for effective tilling of the land and successful harvests.
• and for the forks: Hebrew קַרְדֻּמּוֹת (qardummot). While KJV translates "forks," most modern versions translate this as "axes" or "sickles." Given the context of chopping and clearing tools, "axes" for cutting wood or clearing brush, or heavy "sickles" for harvesting, seems more appropriate.
• and for the axes: Hebrew מַקֶּבֶת (maqqebet). This word typically refers to a general chopping tool, like an axe, hatchet, or even a mallet/hammer for shaping metal. Its inclusion alongside "qardummot" suggests a range of chopping or heavy impact tools.
• and to sharpen the goads: Hebrew דָרְבָן (darban). An oxgoad was a long pole, usually with a pointed iron tip for prodding oxen, and a flatter end for cleaning the plowshare. Sharpening indicates maintaining its effectiveness as a farming instrument, not a weapon, yet vital for everyday agrarian life.
• Words-group: "and for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.": This list details the variety of essential agricultural and general-purpose tools that required Philistine blacksmithing services. It demonstrates that the Philistine monopoly was not limited to weapons but extended to the fundamental tools for livelihood, thus enforcing comprehensive economic subjugation and ensuring Israel remained primarily an agrarian, disarmed populace dependent on their oppressors.

1 Samuel 13 21 Bonus section

The precise mention of the "pim" unit of weight in 1 Samuel 13:21 is a remarkable point of convergence between the biblical text and archaeology. For many years, the meaning and precise value of "pim" were unknown, leading some critics to question the passage's historical precision. However, during archaeological excavations in Israel in the early 20th century, small stones inscribed with the ancient Hebrew script for "pim" were unearthed. These weights, accurately correlating to about two-thirds of a shekel, validated the biblical account and confirmed the historical detail regarding Philistine economic practices. This discovery reinforces the reliability and historicity of the biblical narrative. The episode emphasizes a core biblical theme: God is not dependent on human might or technological superiority to deliver His people, but often works through apparent weakness and disadvantage to display His power.

1 Samuel 13 21 Commentary

1 Samuel 13:21 powerfully illustrates the practical, oppressive reality of Philistine domination over Israel. Beyond merely preventing weapon production (vv. 19-20), the Philistines controlled the very means of Israel's survival, dictating the costs for maintaining essential agricultural tools. The exact price, a "pim," revealed to be an actual ancient weight, offers a concrete detail that grounds the biblical narrative in historical accuracy and conveys the pervasive economic exploitation. This oppressive system ensured Israel remained weak, disarmed, and reliant, setting the stage for God's dramatic intervention to grant victory, not through superior weaponry or strength, but through His power, emphasizing divine sovereignty over human might. This highlights that God’s deliverance often comes when human resources are at their lowest, showing His glory.