SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:19
Y en toda la tierra de Israel no se hallaba herrero; porque los filisteos habían dicho: Para que por ventura los hebreos no hagan espada o lanza.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:19
Verse 19. Now there was no smith found] It is very likely that in the former wars the Philistines carried away all the smiths from Israel, as Porsenna did in the peace which he granted to the Romans, not permitting any iron to be forged except for the purposes of agriculture: "Nehemiah ferro, nisi in agricultura, uterentur." The Chaldeans did the same to the Jews in the time of Nebuchadnezzar; they carried away all the artificers, 2 Kings xxiv. 14; Jer. xxiv. 1; xxix. 2. And in the same manner did Cyrus treat the Lydians, Herod. lib. i., c. 145. See several examples in Calmet.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 19. Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel , etc.] The Philistines, when they ruled over them, having removed them into their own country, and forbid any to learn or exercise that trade in Israel: for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make swords or spears : this they did to prevent their having arms, and the use of them, that they might not rebel against them, and fight with them, and overcome them; it was a piece of policy to keep them subject to them; so Nebuchadnezzar, when he conquered the Jews and carried them captive, took care particularly to carry away their smiths, and left none but the poorest sort of people in the land, ( 2 Kings 24:14 Jeremiah 24:1) and Porsena, king of the Etrusci, when he made a covenant with the Romans, upon the expulsion of their kings, made this a condition of peace with them, that they should use no iron but in husbandry f257 . When this course was taken by the Philistines with the Israelites, and how long it had continued is not certain; it is probable it might be in the space of forty years they ruled over Israel, in which Samson was born, for we never read of any sword or spear that he made use of; and though there were two battles in the times of Eli, in both which Israel were beaten, they might make use only of bows and arrows, slings, and stones, clubs, etc, as also in the battle of Saul with the Ammonites; and as for the defeat of the Philistines in the time of Samuel, it was by thunder; and though the Philistines were then subdued, yet, as Samuel grew old, they regained their power in a good measure, and the Israelites had not spirit enough to oppose them, nor diligence and industry to learn and revive the trade of smiths among them; not even for what was necessary to husbandry, as the following verse shows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-23 - See how politic the Philistines were when they had power; they not onl prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war, but oblige them to depend upon their enemies, even for instruments of husbandry How impolitic Saul was, who did not, in the beginning of his reign, se himself to redress this. Want of true sense always accompanies want of grace. Sins which appear to us very little, have dangerou consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenceless nation; much mor those who are destitute of the whole armour of God __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וחרשׁ 2796 לא 3808 ימצא 4672 בכל 3605 ארץ 776 ישׂראל 3478 כי 3588 אמר 559 פלשׁתים 6430 פן 6435 יעשׂו 6213 העברים 5680 חרב 2719 או 176 חנית׃ 2595
