Philistines

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=**Origin**=

The philistines descended from Calsuhim (Gen. 10:13, 14) and originally dwelled in the land of Caphtor (Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7). They are also known as the Caphtorims (Deut. 2:23) and the Cherethites (1 Sam. 30:14; Zeph. 2:5) who were sea-faring people who dwelled along the coast (Ez. 25:16; Zeph. 2:5).1

=**Location**=

The philistines conquered the Avims and took the coast of Canaan known as Philistia (Ps. 87:4; 108:9). They are divided into five states- Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath (Josh. 13:3; Jud. 3:3; 1 Sam. 6:16). Their land was given by God to the Israelites (Josh. 13:2,3; 15:45, 47). 2

=**Character**=

They are known as a proud (Zech. 9:6), idolatrous (Jud. 16:23; 1 Sam. 5:2), superstitious (Isa. 2:6), and war-like (1 Sam. 17:1; 28:1) but also men of great strength and stature (1 Sam. 17:4-7; 2 Sam. 21:16, 18-20).3, 4

=**Prophecy**=

There is much prophecy about the Philistines in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Obadiah and Zephaniah. They are prophesied to have union with Syria against Israel (Isa. 9:11, 12) as well as to help in Israel’s restoration (Isa. 11:14). Their utter destruction by Pharaoh King of Egypt (Jer. 47:5; Zeph. 2:4) and their hatred and revenge against Israel is prophesied about (Eze. 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8). They have base men as their rulers (Zech. 9:6), shock at the ruin of Tyre (Zech. 9:3, 5) and the destruction and desolation of their cities also (Jer. 47:5; Zeph. 2:4) is prophesied of. And lastly, there is a prophesy of their country being a future possession to Israel (Ob. 1:19; Zeph. 2:7).4, 5

=**Wars, Skirmishes and Battles between Israel and Philistia**=

Always confederated with the enemies of Israel (Ps 83:7; Isa 9:11,12)

Shamgar slew six hundreds of Philistines and delivered Israel (Jud. 3:31)

Oppressed Israel after the death of Jair for eighteen years (Jud. 10:7,8)

Oppressed Israel after the death of Abdon forty years (Jud. 13:1)

Defeated Israel at Ebenezer (1 Sam. 4:1,2)

Defeated Israel and took the ark (1 Sam. 4:3-11)

Miraculously routed at Mizpeh (1 Sam. 7:7-14)

Jonathan smote their garrison at Sheba (1 Sam. 13:3,4)

Invaded the land of Israel with a great army (1 Sam. 13:5,17-23)

Jonathan and his armor-bearer smote a garrison (1 Sam. 14:1-14)

Miraculously discomfited (1 Sam. 14:15-23)

Saul constantly at war with (1 Sam. 14:52)

Defied Israel by their champion (1 Sam. 17:4-10)

Defeated Israel at Ephesdammim and pursued to Ekron (1 Sam. 17:1,52)

Defeated by Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:6,7)

Distressed Judah under Ahaz (2 Chron. 28:18,19)

Defeated by Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8)

Gathered all their armies to Aphek against Israel (1 Sam. 28:1; 29:1)

Their town of Ziklag was taken and plundered by the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:1,2,16)

Israel defeated by, and Saul slain (1 Sam. 31:1-10)

Besieged in Gibbethon by Nadab (1 Kings 15:27)

Sent by God against Jehoram (2 Chron. 21:16,17)6

=**Samson**=

Samson was promised as a deliverer of the Israelites from the Philistines (Jud. 13:5) and also intermarried among them (Jud. 14:1, 10). He slew thirty at Askelon (Jud. 14:19), burned their vineyards (Jud. 15:3-5), slew many for burning his wife (Jud. 15:7, 8) and also killed a thousand with the jawbone of a donkey (Jud. 15:15, 16). He was blinded and imprisoned by them (Jud. 16:21) and pulled down the house of their god Dagon, destroying huge numbers of Philistines (Jud. 16:29, 30).6

=**Ark of the Covenant**=

The Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant and put it in their god Dagon’s house (1 Sam. 5:1-4). They were constantly plagued for holding on to the Ark (1 Sam. 5:6-12) and eventually send the Ark back and were healed (1 Sam. 6:1-18).6

=**David**=

When David was a young man he slew Goliath, the Philistine champion (1 Sam. 17:40-50) and then later procured Saul’s daughter Michal for a hundred Philistine foreskins (1 Sam. 18:25-27). He also fled to them for safety while escaping from Saul (1 Sam. 27:1-7) and gained the confidence of Achish (1 Sam. 28:2; 29:9) although the other Philistine commanders did not (1 Sam. 29:2-7). King David also defeated them often over the course of his reign (2 Sam. 5:17-23; 8:1; 21:15-22; 23:8-12).5, 6

1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). //A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments//. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 2. Carl S Ehrlich, //The Philistines in Transition: A History from Ca. 1000-730 B.C.E// (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1996). 3. Neal Bierling, //Philistines: Giving Goliath His Due// (Warren Center, Pa: Shangri-La Publications, 2002). 4. Trude Krakauer Dothan, //The Philistines and Their Material Culture// (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1982). 5. Edward E Hindson, //The Philistines and the Old Testament// (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1972). 6. Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). //Harper's Bible dictionary// (1st ed.). San Francisco: Harper & Row.

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