16. Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people who were with him were staying at Geba in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
17. Three raiding parties left the Philistine camp. One took the road to Ophrah toward the territory of Shual.
18. Another took the road to Beth-horon, and the last took the border road that overlooks the Zeboim Valley toward the desert.
19. No metalworker was to be found anywhere in Israelite territory because the Philistines had said, "The Hebrews must not make swords and spears."
20. So every Israelite had to go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.
21. 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.
22. So on the day of the battle, no swords or spears were to be found in the possession of any of the troops with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
23. Now a group of Philistine soldiers had marched out to the pass at Michmash.