The Philistines were an ancient people who occupied the southwestern coast of Canaan, in a region known as Philistia. This area roughly corresponds to the modern-day Gaza Strip and parts of the southern coastal plain of Israel. The Philistines are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the primary adversaries of the Israelites.

Origins and Settlement

The Philistines are believed to have been part of the Sea Peoples, a confederation of naval raiders who attacked ancient Egypt and other regions in the eastern Mediterranean during the late Bronze Age. They settled in Canaan around the 12th century BC. The Bible refers to them as coming from Caphtor, which is often identified with Crete or another location in the Aegean region (Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7).

Philistine Cities

The Philistines established a pentapolis, or a group of five city-states, which included Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Each city was ruled by its own king, and together they formed a loose confederation. These cities were strategically located along trade routes and were known for their wealth and military prowess.

Conflict with Israel

The Philistines are most famously known for their conflicts with the Israelites during the period of the Judges and the early monarchy. They are depicted as a formidable enemy, often oppressing the Israelites and engaging in battles with them. One of the most notable encounters is the account of David and Goliath, where the young David defeats the Philistine giant Goliath with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17).

The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant during a battle at Ebenezer, but after experiencing plagues and misfortunes, they returned it to the Israelites (1 Samuel 4-6). The Philistine threat persisted into the reign of King Saul, who fought numerous battles against them. Saul's final battle against the Philistines resulted in his death on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31).

Cultural and Religious Practices

The Philistines were known for their advanced ironworking technology, which gave them a military advantage over the Israelites, who were still using bronze weapons. They worshiped a pantheon of gods, with Dagon being one of the most prominent deities. The temple of Dagon in Gaza is famously mentioned in the account of Samson, who brought down the temple by collapsing its pillars, killing himself and many Philistines (Judges 16:23-30).

Philistia in Prophecy

The prophets of Israel often spoke against Philistia, pronouncing judgments and foretelling its downfall. For example, the prophet Amos declared, "I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod and the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon. I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish," says the Lord GOD (Amos 1:8). Similarly, Zephaniah prophesied, "Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: 'I will destroy you, so that no inhabitant is left'" (Zephaniah 2:5).

Legacy

The Philistines eventually faded from history, likely assimilating into other cultures or being conquered by successive empires such as the Assyrians and Babylonians. Despite their disappearance, the Philistines left a lasting legacy in the biblical narrative as a symbol of the challenges and adversities faced by the Israelites in their quest to establish a nation under God's covenant.Psalm 87:4
I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 108:9
Moab is my wash pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Canaan
... Among the Philistines this older population was called Avvim, the people ... There was
firstly the primitive population of the country, whose rude rock ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Chapter xx
... to go from thence toward the region called the Negeb ... scattered over this region of
the South Country while he ... of Gerar, the king of the Philistines, cannot be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xx.htm

Strength Profaned and Lost
... our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew ... And Samson called unto the
Lord, and said, O ... his hair.' The cruelties of the Philistines were better ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/strength profaned and lost.htm

The Prophecy of Obadiah.
... of Jerusalem, and the overflowing of the whole country by the ... calling on the Lord,
and the being called by the ... on the West, at the borders of the Philistines. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophecy of obadiah.htm

Chapter x
... Abraham's time (Genesis 21:32) the Philistines are in ... sometimes for the land, is
Assyria, called Asshur by ... regarded as referring to the country Arrapachitis on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

The Desolations of the Lord, the Consolation of his Saints
... recollect how it became the base, grovelling thing called Secularism ... Though ye quit
yourselves like men, ye Philistines, ye must, ye ... Look through this country. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the desolations of the lord.htm

Turning Back in the Day of Battle
... to be called a thief, or even to be called a devil ... less of all sorts of scepticism
throughout the whole country, I am ... The Philistines are good hands at shouting ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/turning back in the day.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... to the attacks of Damascus, Moab, Edom, or the Philistines.* The daily ... highest peak,
now known as the Demavend, was then called Bikni,* a ... The country of Bikni ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

In Judaea
... Samson had come down upon the Philistines, and here ... all, "the townspeople," as they
were called, were regarded ... to their more shy and awkward country relatives. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... It seems that this town was called Amkaru, and its ... and two on the north, and the
country which they ... with the petty kingdoms of the Hebrews and Philistines. ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

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