Shmuel Aleph (Demo)

In these psukim it is written that the as the Jews prepared to do battle with the Plishtim they did not have a weapon or a spear. The Radak is amazed that the Jews did not have a sword at that time. Both Rashi and Radak suggest that Plishtim had taken control over the Jews at that time and had removed all the blacksmiths from Israel as they were afraid the Jews would make weapons.

Others understand this to mean that the Plishtim had a monopoly on iron production in the area. To explain, until that point most weapons were made out of bronze/copper, whereas tools made of iron are much stronger. For example, an iron sword might cut a copper shield in half and of course the tools used for plowing would be much stronger.

The technology for producing iron was new. While bronze melts at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit iron melts at about 2,750 degrees Fahrenheit. It seems that until that time people could not get iron to the necessary heat. Thus, it is understandable why the Plishtim would want to control the manufacturing secret of this new technology.

While this second explanation doesn't seem to fit smoothly with the words of the posuk which says there was "no sword" to be found...the concept is still interesting.

The videos below show how iron was made in those days. The hot iron would be shaped into weapons such as arrow heads, spears, swords, daggers and the like.

For some more pictures of weapons used in ancient times, click here.