Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 13:19

"Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:" — 1 Samuel 13:19 (ASV)

Now there was no smith found. —We must allow a year, perhaps two or three, to have elapsed while Saul and Jonathan ... abode in Gibeah, during which period the Philistine raids went on unchecked, the Israelite forces being too weak to venture with any hope of success into the open country.

The statement regarding the destruction of the forges probably only specifically refers to the southern districts of Canaan—especially the territory of Benjamin, from where Saul and Jonathan, in the earlier years of the former’s reign, drew, no doubt, the majority of their men of war. These devastating forays are alluded to in 1 Samuel 13:17–18.