Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 13:21

21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes , and to sharpen the goads.

So the sense is, They allowed them some small helps to make their Mattocks, and in some sort to serve their present use. But these words may be otherwise Translated, and are so by some Learned, both Ancient and Modern, Translators; thus, Therefore the mouths or edges of the mattocks, and coulters, &c. were dull or blunt. Or rather thus, When (Heb. and put for when, as the Particle, and, is sometimes rendred, as Mar. 15. 25.) the mouths or edges of the mattocks, &c. were blunt. So this passage very well agrees both with the foregoing and following words; and the whole sence of the place is intirely thus, They went to the Philistines to sharpen their shares, and mattocks, and coulters, and axes, when they were blunt, and (which was more strange, They were forced to go to them, even) to sharpen their goads.

Marginal references: Hebr. a file with mouths.; Heb. to set.