¹⁸ Another took the road to Beth-horon, and the last took the border road that overlooks the Zeboim Valley toward the desert.

Philistine ironworking

¹⁹ No metalworker was to be found anywhere in Israelite territory because the Philistines had said, “The Hebrews must not make swords and spears.” ²⁰ So every Israelite had to go down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.