Many years had passed since the defeat of the Philistines at Ebenezer under the leadership of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:13–14). During the intervening years it appears as if the Philistines once again began to impose their power upon Israel (cf. 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:5). If Saul began to reign as king when he was thirty years old, and if he now had a son in Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:16), then he was likely around 50 or 55 years of age. A lot can happen in twenty to thirty years.
19 Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.”