16. Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people who were with him were staying at Geba in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
17. Three raiding parties left the Philistine camp. One took the road to Ophrah toward the territory of Shual.
18. Another took the road to Beth-horon, and the last took the border road that overlooks the Zeboim Valley toward the desert.
19. No metalworker was to be found anywhere in Israelite territory because the Philistines had said, "The Hebrews must not make swords and spears."