Bible Question: What country controlled the distribution of iron and prevented Israel from having any really useful weapons? |
Bible Answer: Holman Bible Dictionary (Iron) states; Older scholars taught that the Philistines held an iron monopoly over Israel. Increased availability of iron corresponds to the period of Philistia's collapse, and 1 Samuel records that the Philistines prevented smiths from working in Israel (1 Sam. 13:19-21). However, excavations in Philistia have uncovered no more iron implements than in Israelite cities. This suggests that the prohibition of smiths in Israel may refer to workers in bronze rather than iron or that for a period of history the Philistines had an economic and perhaps technological advantage, being able to control the iron industry. |