Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
Now there was no smith ... throughout ... Israel. The country was in the lowest state of depression and degradation. The Philistines, after the great victory over the sons of Eli, had become the virtual masters of the land. Their policy in disarming the natives has been often followed in the East, (cf. Judges 5:8: see a similar instance in modern times, Morgan's 'History of Algiers,' p. 196, quoted by Taylor, 'Calment's Fragments,' No. 91:) For repairing any serious damage to their agricultural implements, they had to apply to the neighbouring forts.