1 Samuel 13:19
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
Saul's crisis with the Philistines forms the setting, when no smith was to be found throughout all the land of Israel because the Philistines deliberately prevented it lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.
This left Israel in a vulnerable military position as the Philistine army gathered against them.
Israel's force was small and almost unarmed, badly outmatched by the well-equipped army opposed to them.