וְחָרָשׁ֙ לֹ֣א יִמָּצֵ֔א בְּכֹ֖ל אֶ֣רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־אמר [אָמְר֣וּ] פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּ֚ן יַעֲשׂ֣וּ הָעִבְרִ֔ים חֶ֖רֶב א֥וֹ חֲנִֽית׃
Pada waktu itu tidak ada seorang pandai besi pun di seluruh tanah Israel, sebab orang Filistin berkata, “Jangan-jangan orang Ibrani membuat pedang atau tombak.”
Rashi
A blacksmith was not to be found. I.e., was not available at the beginning of Shaul's reign, because the Philistines who ruled over Yisroel, eliminated all the iron smiths from Yisroel, lest they make weapons to wage war.