¹⁸ Another group went toward Beth-horon, and another group went toward the borderland that looks down on the valley of Zeboim in the wilderness.

¹⁹ Now at that time there were no blacksmiths in all the land of Israel because the Philistines said, “Then the Hebrews will be capable of making swords or spears.” ²⁰ That meant that the Israelites had to go to Philistine blacksmiths to have their farm implements and their axes sharpened.