Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them] swords or spears:
Ver. 19. Now there was no smith found.] For the Philistines had either slain them, or carried them away, By a like wicked policy, Julian the Apostate forbade Christians the use of the liberal arts: and Antichrist, the Word of God.
Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.] See the like care of disarming, and disabling an enemy to rebel, in Judges 5:8. So Cyrus disarmed the Lydians, after that he had subdued them: a and William the Conqueror the commons of England; he prevented also their night meetings with a heavy penalty, that every man at the day closing should cover his fire, and depart to his rest, &c. b
a Justin., lib. i.
b Daniel's Hist., p. 46.