Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Samuel 13:15-23

"And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual; and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock; yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash." — 1 Samuel 13:15-23 (ASV)

Consider how shrewd the Philistines were when they held power; they not only prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war but also compelled them to depend on their enemies, even for farming tools. How unwise Saul was, who did not, at the beginning of his reign, set himself to correct this. A lack of sound judgment always accompanies a lack of grace. Sins that seem very small to us have dangerous consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenseless nation; much more so are those who are destitute of the whole armor of God.