"The Philistines had a unique political organization. Their five city-states were ruled by five 'lords of the Philistines' (Josh 13:3; Judg 16:5 KJV). It is clear that the Philistines were more wealthy and more advanced in technology than their Hebrew neighbors. According to 1 Samuel 13:19-22 they had the knowledge of metallurgy, whereas the Hebrews did not. The Philistines jealously guarded this monopoly, forcing the Hebrews to come to them even for agricultural implements, which they repaired at exorbitant cost (13:21). This superiority (the Philistines even had chariots, 13:5) is the reason for the their military domination of the Hebrews so evident toward the end of the period of the judges and in Saul's reign.
