1 Samuel 13:19 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

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 Israelitish forces being too weak to venture with any hope of success into the open country. The statement respecting the destruction of the smithies probably only specially refers to the southern districts of Canaan — especially the territory of Benjamin, whence 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.