So it came to pass in the day of battle
When that drew near, and they were called to it, and obliged to fight or flee, or surrender:
that there were neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the
people that were with Saul and Jonathan:
which was not owing to their leaving them behind in the camp, or casting them away from them through fear, as they followed Saul with trembling, but to the cause now mentioned. In what manner some preceding battles were fought with the Philistines and Ammonites, notwithstanding, have been accounted for on ( 1 Samuel 13:19 ) , but it is strange that the Israelites did not furnish themselves with the arms of the Philistines at the defeat of them in Ebenezer, ( 1 Samuel 7:10 1 Samuel 7:11 ) and with the arms of the Ammonites at Jabeshgilead, ( 1 Samuel 11:11 ) and that such a warlike prince as Saul appeared at his first setting out to be should not in the first place take care to provide armour for his men by some means or another; for that those that left him should have arms, and not those that abode with him, does not seem reasonable. It may be the Benjamites, being expert in slinging, were indifferent to and neglected the use of any other weapon, or method of fighting:
but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found;
swords and spears, and with them only.