¹⁷ Philistine raiders left their camp in three divisions: one group went toward Ophrah, in the land of Shual. 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.”