21“You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
Leather shields were rubbed with oil in preparation for combat.1 It made it harder for enemies to grab the shield during hand-to-hand fighting (Isaiah 21:5).2
21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.