Quote:
Originally Posted by Brother Temperance
Has any explanation yet been found for the singular properties of iron chariots, as detailed in Judges 1:19?
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J'g:1:18: Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
J'g:1:19: And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
I firstly will admit that my historical and military knowledge is not all it should be, my speciality lies in Godly scientific matters. All I can scientifically add is the iron is 9.2 times heavier than gopher-wood per cubic cubit.
Nevertheless, as Faith in the Word of God has never prevented me from forming a Godly theory:
(I see a possibility that a reading of the above might suggest that the Lord was with Judah when he went to the mountains but Judah was on his own when he went to the valley. However, Judah was doing God’s Work and could reasonably have expected some support.)
Usually, chariots do not provide much trouble to the Lord (e.g. the Red Sea episode) so why should they here?
The answer may lie in the method used for fighting chariots on the battlefield. You would fight them with other chariots and, should the enemy break through in numbers, as they neared the lines, the infantry would then take over.
The normal chariot was constructed of light wood for speed and manoeuvrability. This would be useful on most ground. The disadvantage was that it was susceptible to damage, particularly around the areas of the axel and wheels. Once so damaged, the charioteer was a dead man. Thus this was the part of the chariot that Judah’s charioteers would concentrate upon. Heavy blows to the wheels, poles of gopher-wood stuck through the spokes, burning arrows, and the classic wheel to wheel stuff, etc.
However, we are now looking at the enemy possessing chariots of iron. Now the enemy is down in the valley – on flat ground. The valley is narrow (most valleys are) so the question of manoeuvrability and the speed of the horses isn’t so critical. But the weight of the chariots still remains critical – a horse has only so much energy, so there is a question of how far and how long an iron chariot can be pulled.
Judah sends his charioteers forwards. Traditionally they would trot for the most of the way and then charge when the two sides of chariots were within, say ¼ mile of each other. The idea is to draw the chariots of the valley people. The people of the valley wait… Judah’s chariots move nearer… they are now at that point between the enemy and their own ranks where retreat is not an option. Judah does not understand why the enemy’s chariots have not advanced and charged. There is a small diversionary attack to Judah’s left flank. As Judah deals with this, his chariots have now moved too close and the chariots of the valley begin their charge.
Judah’s chariots respond but all their swiftness is of no effect, they bounce off the enemy’s chariots in pieces. Judah’s charioteers are destroyed as the infantry of the people of the valley charges.
At this stage, all Judah can do is wait for the arrival of the enemy chariots; chariots that are impervious to the skill of the infantry.
The losses are too great, Judah retreats.
The question is why did God not intervene. Look a little further down the verses:
J'g:1:27: Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
J'g:1:28: And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
J'g:1:29: Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
J'g:1:30: Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
J'g:1:31: Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
We see that the Lord of Hosts was with Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, and Asher yet they did not drive out the various people.
In His Wisdom and Mercy, The Lord had called time on the slaying, which had pleased Him greatly, and had decided tribute was the thing. The question of the iron chariots had therefore caused the Lord to change the battle plan.
Why did He not just organize a slaughter and then continue with the new plan? Well, that’s like asking why He didn’t start the battle with air-strikes and heavy artillery – the Lord keeps to the methods of the time and an earthquake, flood or fire would have caught Judah and his men and a plague is a bit slow.
Thank you for exercising my gray matter – I have been talking with Mrs Bathfire for most of the day about the evils of selling doves and this was a pleasant interlude.