There is a common misconception that the Iron Age displaced the Bronze Age because iron weapons are stronger than bronze weapons and, as a result, iron armies always beat bronze armies. However, it’s more complex than this. Both an iron and bronze sword will slice your throat like a tomato – training and skill, not metal make the difference in hand-to-hand combat. And either metal, when struck against the other, will survive the blow (although bronze will eventually break). The real reason that Iron Age displaced the Bronze Age is because iron comes only from one ingredient – iron ore – and bronze comes from two ingredients – copper and tin. Nations that relied on bronze had to maintain friendly trade relationships with other nations to access whichever resource – copper or tin – they lacked. However, once a nation could build tools and weapons from iron, all they needed was a natural supply. The no longer needed those trade relationships (at least for metals). Plus, tin is relatively rare. So an iron army could produce more weapons than a bronze army; which meant if you were a foot soldier on the bronze side, you had to fight with the plastic rake you got from Target.

To make things worse, the Philistines have a total, regional monopoly on iron ore and iron works. The Israelites had nothing.

Apparently Saul and Samuel had pre-arranged a meeting time and agreed that Samuel would sacrifice offerings. However, Samuel didn’t show up and the men were scared and leaving. So Saul did what he felt he had to do.