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but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle;
Verse Takeaways
1
Total Dependence on the Enemy
Commentators explain that the Philistine control over Israel was so complete that they had eliminated all blacksmiths from Israelite territory. This forced the Israelites to go to their enemies for something as basic as sharpening their plows, hoes, and axes. This shrewd policy ensured Israel remained agriculturally functional but militarily weak and dependent.
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1 Samuel
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4
18th Century
Presbyterian
The best rendering of the passage is perhaps as follows: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen whenever there was blun…
19th Century
Anglican
To sharpen every man his share, and his coulter. —Porsenna, we read, in the time of the wars of the Republic, allowed the…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines Were obliged to go into Palestine, into some one or other of the…
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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 com…
