Christians

[Darth]

Why couldn't it be done the first time? (Because they had chariots of iron, that's the only answer given).

Chapter four proves that iron chariots were not any sort of problem. And apparently you truly did not read past chapter one, since the reason it did not happen the first time is explained in chapter two.

judges 1:19
And the lord was with judah;

(Ok so he's with them at this point, hes fighting with/for them)

and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not (not would not, not refused to, could not) drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Please, its all much the same for a long while, god helps them, then sets enemies upon them, rescues them, sends enemies/allows them to be defeated, rescues them, sends enemies/allows them to be defeated... it's a recurring theme, his followers either do evil, or worship other gods, and this earns them x years of occupation. Arguing that he was displeased with them and so refused to help (in judges 2, which comes after judges 1) and sent an angel to say as much isn't a solid argument. The wording in judges 1 was that he/they could not, because the enemy had iron charriots. Its says nothing about refusal to help, it talks of inability. He was on their side the first time the iron chariots come up.

From KJV, if you're using a different version tell me and ill swap over.