One of the greatest examples of the Philistine material culture that effectively demonstrates both their technological superiority to the Israelites and cultural advancement is the production of iron. Different pieces of archaeological evidence seem to indicate that the Philistines had advanced metalworking capabilities. For instance, in the Philistine site of Tell Qasile, archaeologists found an iron knife from the twelfth century B.C., and archaeologists found another iron knife from the eleventh century B.C. in a tomb in Tell el-Far’ah (Muhly 49-50). Moshe Dothan found additional evidence of the Philistines’ metalworking abilities in Ashdod, where there was extensive evidence of metalworking activity, including crucibles and the remains of molten copper (Muhly 53). Granted, this activity points to bronze production, but as J.D. Muhly points out, these materials indicate the sort of background usually associated with the development of iron metallurgy (53). Further evidence also indicates that iron technology most likely developed first in the Eastern Mediterranean in the Aegean region (Muhly 48). As a result, one can speculate that the Philistines, having brought metalworking techniques from their Aegean homelands, may at least have been a culture contributing to the spread of iron in the Levant.

The crafting of iron requires a melting point that is roughly four hundred degrees Celsius above that of bronze, which the Levantine civilizations chiefly used before the twelfth century (Muhly 43). As a result, making iron requires a higher level of technological sophistication. However, in addition to showing technological prowess, iron also gave the Philistines a distinct military advantage. As J.D. Muhly notes, iron became “ideal for swords, spearheads, knives, daggers, and even arrowheads,” because it was able to “take and hold a sharp cutting edge or point” and provided “great hardness and strength” (46). Biblical authors acknowledge the presence of Philistine iron technology when they describe Goliath’s spear shaft, which “was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels” (NIV Study Bible, 1 Samuel 17:7). However, they also acknowledge the superiority of iron when they mention that “on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them” (1 Samuel 13:22). As this passage illustrates, iron weapons were more desirable and, therefore, advantageous, since Saul, the king of Israel, and his son, Jonathan, possessed them. However, the Biblical authors also indicate that the Israelites did not possess this technology, since only people of great privilege were able to have iron weaponry.

Iron Metallurgy

Conclusions