Bible Dictionary: Philistines

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Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Philistines

those who dwell in villages

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Philistines

(immigrants), The origin of the Philistines is nowhere expressly stated in the Bible; but as the prophets describe them as "the Philistines-from Caphtor," (Amos 9:7) and "the remnant of the maritime district of Caphtor" (Jeremiah 47:4) it is prima facie probable that they were the Caphtorim which came out of Caphtor" who expelled the Avim from their territory and occupied it; in their place, (2:23) and that these again were the Caphtorim mentioned in the Mosaic genealogical table among the descendants of Mizraim. (Genesis 10:14) It has been generally assumed that Caphtor represents Crete, and that the Philistines migrated from that island, either directly or through Egypt, into Palestine. But the name Caphtor is more probably identified with the Egyptian Coptos. [CAPHTOR, CAPHTORIM] History. --The Philistines must have settled in the land of Canaan before the time of Abraham; for they are noticed in his day as a pastoral tribe in the neighborhood of Gerur. (Genesis 21:32,34; 26:1,8) Between the times of Abraham and Joshua the Philistines had changed their quarters, and had advanced northward into the plain of Philistia. The Philistines had at an early period attained proficiency in the arts of peace. Their wealth was abundant, (Judges 16:5,19) and they appear in all respects to have been a prosperous people. Possessed of such elements of power, they had attained in the time of the judges an important position among eastern nations. About B.C. 1200 we find them engaged in successful war with the Sidonians. Justin xviii. 3. The territory of the Philistines having been once occupied by the Canaanites, formed a portion of the promised land, and was assigned the tribe of Judah. (Joshua 15:2,12,45-47) No portion of it, however, was conquered in the lifetime of Joshua, (Joshua 13:2) and even after his death no permanent conquest was effected, (Judges 3:3) though we are informed that the three cities of Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron were taken. (Judges 1:18) The Philistines soon recovered these, and commenced an aggressive policy against the Israelites, by which they gained a complete ascendancy over them. Individual heroes were raised up from time to time, such as Shamgar the son of Anath, (Judges 3:31) and still more Samson, Judg 13-16, but neither of these men succeeded in permanently throwing off the yoke. The Israelites attributed their past weakness to their want, of unity, and they desired a king, with the special object of leading them against the foe. (1 Samuel 8:20) Saul threw off the yoke; and the Philistines were defeated with great slaughter at Geba. (1 Samuel 13:3) They made no attempt to regain their supremacy for about twenty-five years, and the scene of the next contest shows the altered strength of the two parties. It was no longer in the central country, but in a ravine leading down to the Philistine plain, the valley of Elah, the position of which is about 14 miles southwest of Jerusalem. On this occasion the prowess of young David secured success to Israel, and the foe was pursued to the gates of Gath and Ekron. (1 Samuel 17:1) ... The power of the Philistines was, however, still intact on their own territory. The border warfare was continued. The scene of the next conflict was far to the north, in the valley of Esdraelon. The battle on this occasion proved disastrous to the Israelites; Saul himself perished, and the Philistines penetrated across the Jordan and occupied the, forsaken cities. (1 Samuel 31:1-7) On the appointment of David to be king, he twice attacked them, and on each occasion with signal success, in the first case capturing their images, in the second pursuing them "from Geba until thou come to Gazer." (2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-16) Henceforth the Israelites appear as the aggressors. About seven years after the defeat at Rephaim, David, who had now consolidated his power, attacked them on their own soil end took Gath with its dependencies. The whole of Philistine was included in Solomon's empire. Later when the Philistines, joined by the Syrians and Assyrians, made war on the kingdom of Israel, Hezekiah formed an alliance with the Egyptians, as a counterpoise to the Assyrians, and the possession of Philistia became henceforth the turning-point of the struggle between the two great empires of the East. The Assyrians under Tartan, the general of Sargon, made an expedition against Egypt, and took Ashdod, as the key of that country. (Isaiah 20:1,4,5) Under Senacherib, Philistia was again the scene of important operations. The Assyrian supremacy was restored by Esarhaddon, and it seems probable that the Assyrians retained their hold on Ashdod until its capture, after a long siege, by Psammetichus. It was about this time that Philistia was traversed by vast Scythian horde on their way to Egypt. The Egyptian ascendancy was not as yet re-established, for we find the next king, Necho, compelled to besiege Gaza on his return from the battle of Megiddo. After the death of Necho the contest was renewed between the Egyptians and the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar, and the result was specially disastrous to the Philistines. The "old hatred" that the Philistines bore to the Jews was exhibited in acts of hostility at the time of the Babylonish captivity, (Ezekiel 25:15-17) but on the return this was somewhat abated, for some of the Jews married Philistine women, to the great scandal of their rulers. (Nehemiah 13:23,24) From this time the history of Philistia is absorbed in the struggles of the neighboring kingdoms. The latest notices of the Philistines as a nation occur in 1 Macc. 3-5. Institutions, religion, etc . --With regard to the institutions of the Philistines our information is very scanty, The five chief cities had, as early as the days of Joshua, constituted themselves into a confederacy, restricted however, in all probability, to matters of offence and defence. Each was under the government of a prince, (Joshua 13:3; Judges 3:3) etc.; (1 Samuel 18:30; 29:6) and each possessed its own territory. The Philistines appear to have been deeply imbued with superstition: they carried their idols with them on their campaigns, (2 Samuel 5:21) and proclaimed their victories in their presence. (1 Samuel 31:9) The gods whom they chiefly worshipped were Dagon, (Judges 16:23; 1 Samuel 5:3-5; 1 Chronicles 10:10) 1Macc. 10:83, Ashtaroth, (1 Samuel 31:10) Herod. I. 105, and Baalzebub. (2 Kings 1:2-6)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Philistines

A celebrated people, who inhabited the southern seacoast of Canaan, which from them took the name of Philistia, Psalm 60:8 108:9, or Palestine. They seem originally to have migrated form Egypt to Caphtor, by which some understand Crete, and others with the ancients Cappadocia, Genesis 10:14, and thence to have passed over to Palestine under the name of Caphtorim, where they drove out the Avim, who dwelt from Hazerim to Azzah, that is, Gaza, and swelt in their stead, De 2:23. The country they inhabited lay between the higher land of Judea and the Mediterranean, and was in the main a level and fertile territory. It resembles our own western prairies; and bears splendid crops year after year, though miserably cultivated and never manured.

The Philistines were a powerful people in Palestine, even in Abraham's time, B. C. 1900, for they had then kings and considerable cities, Gen 20...2; 21.32; Ex 13...17. They are not enumerated among the nations devoted to extermination with the seed of Canaan. Joshua, however, did not hesitate to attack them by command from the Lord, because they possessed various districts promised to Israel. But these conquests must have been ill maintained, since under the judges, at the time of Saul, and at the beginning of the reign of David, the Philistines had their own kings and lords. Their state was divided into five little principalities, at the head of each of which was a "lord," namely, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron-and they oppressed Israel during the government of the high-priest Eli, that of Samuel, and during the reign of Saul, for about one hundred and twenty years. Shaamgar, Samson, Samuel, and Saul opposed them, and were victorious over them with great slaughter, at various times, but did not destroy their power, Jud 3:14 1 Samuel 4:1-22 7:1-17 14:1-52 31:1-13. They maintained their independence till David subdued them, 2 Samuel 5:17 8:1-18, from which time they continued in subjection to the kings of Judah, down to the reign of Jehoram, son of Johoshaphat, when they revolted, 2 Chronicles 21:16. Jehoram made war against them, and probably reduced them to obedience; for it is observed that they revolted again from Uzziah, who kept them under his sway using his whole reign, 2 Chronicles 26:6-7. During the unfortunate reign of Ahaz, the Philistines made great havoc in the territory of Judah; but his son and successor Hezekiah again subdued them, 2 Chronicles 28:18 2 Kings 18:8. They regained their full liberty, however, under the later kings of Judah; and we see by the menaces uttered against them by the prophets Isaiah, Amos, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, that they brought many calamities on Israel, for which God threatened to punish them with great misfortunes, Jeremiah 47:1-7 Ezekiel 25:15 Am 1:6-8 Obadiah 1:19 Zechariah 9:5. See also Nehemiah 13:23.

They were partially subdued by Esar-haddon king of Assyria and afterwards by Psammetichus king of Egypt; and there is great probability that they were reduced by Nebuchadnezzar, as well as the other people of Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine, during the siege of Tyre. They afterwards fell under the dominion of the Persians; then under that of Alexander the Great, who destroyed Gaza, the only city of the Philistines that dared to oppose him. They appear to have become entirely incorporated with the other inhabitants of the land under the Maccabees, and are no more mentioned as a distinct people. The ancient Philistines appear in sacred history as a warlike people, not strangers to the arts of life, Jud 15:5 1 Samuel 13:20; worshippers of Baal and Ashtoreth, under the names of Baal-zebub and Dagon; having many priests and diviners, 1 Samuel 6:2 2 Kings 1:2 Isaiah 2:6. They appear to have been of the race of Shem, their language being akin to the Hebrew, yet distinct from it, Nehemiah 13:24. Their land, once rich and covered with cities and towns, is now desolate, Zephaniah 2:4-7.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Genesis 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., "Philistim"), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands. Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Samuel 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the south-west of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Genesis 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are represented as inhabiting the tract of country which lay between Judea and Egypt (Exodus 13:17; 15:14, 15; Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 4).

This powerful tribe made frequent incursions against the Hebrews. There was almost perpetual war between them. They sometimes held the tribes, especially the southern tribes, in degrading servitude (Judges 15:11; 1 Samuel 13:19-22); at other times they were defeated with great slaughter (1 Samuel 14:1-47; 17). These hostilities did not cease till the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8), when they were entirely subdued. They still, however, occupied their territory, and always showed their old hatred to Israel (Ezek. 25:15-17). They were finally conquered by the Romans.

The Philistines are called Pulsata or Pulista on the Egyptian monuments; the land of the Philistines (Philistia) being termed Palastu and Pilista in the Assyrian inscriptions. They occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, in the south-western corner of Canaan, which belonged to Egypt up to the closing days of the Nineteenth Dynasty. The occupation took place during the reign of Rameses III. of the Twentieth Dynasty. The Philistines had formed part of the great naval confederacy which attacked Egypt, but were eventually repulsed by that Pharaoh, who, however, could not dislodge them from their settlements in Palestine. As they did not enter Palestine till the time of the Exodus, the use of the name Philistines in Genesis 26:1 must be proleptic. Indeed the country was properly Gerar, as in ch. 20.

They are called Allophyli, "foreigners," in the Septuagint, and in the Books of Samuel they are spoken of as uncircumcised. It would therefore appear that they were not of the Semitic race, though after their establishment in Canaan they adopted the Semitic language of the country. We learn from the Old Testament that they came from Caphtor, usually supposed to be Crete. From Philistia the name of the land of the Philistines came to be extended to the whole of "Palestine." Many scholars identify the Philistines with the Pelethites of 2 Samuel 8:18.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES

(ceren, same as Hebrew word for "axle," probably a native designation): These "lords" (Joshua 13:3 Judges 3:3; Judges 16:5, etc.; 1 Samuel 5:8, 11, etc.), elsewhere called "princes" (sar, 1 Samuel 18:30; 1 Samuel 29:3, 4, 9), were the petty rulers or kings of the 5 Philistine cities, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath.

See PHILISTINES.

PHILISTINES

fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi):

I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES

1. Race and Origin

2. Religion

3. Individual Philistines Mentioned

4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision

5. History in the Old Testament to Death of Saul

6. History Continued to Time of Ahaz

7. Later Notices

II. MONUMENTAL NOTICES

1. Palestinian Excavations

2. Egyptian Monuments

3. Assyrian Texts

III. THE CRETAN THEORY

1. Cherethim and Kretes

2. Caphtor and Keft

IV. DAVID'S GUARDS

1. The "Cherethi" and the "Pelethi" Not Mercenaries

2. Meaning of These Terms

3. Native Hebrews

4. Review

LITERATURE

I. Old Testament Notices.

1. Race and Origin:

The Philistines were an uncircumcised people inhabiting the shore plain between Gezer and Gaza in Southwestern Palestine (see PHILISTIA). The name Palestine itself (Hebrew pelesheth) refers to their country. The word means "migrants," and they came from another country. They are noticed 286 times in the Old Testament, and their country 8 times. The question of their race and origin is of great importance as affecting the genuine character and reliability of the Bible notices. In Genesis 10:14 (1 Chronicles 1:12) they are reckoned with other tribes in Mizraim (Egypt) as descendants of Ham, and as cousins of the old inhabitants of Babylonia (Genesis 10:6). They are said to be a branch of the Casluhim-an unknown people-or, according to Septuagint, of the Casmanim, which would mean "shavers of the head"-a custom of the Phoenicians (forbidden to Hebrews as a rule), as known from a picture of the time of Thothmes III in the 16th century B.C. They are also connected with the Caphtorim or people of Caphtor, whence indeed they are said to have come (Jeremiah 47:4 Amos 9:7). Caphtor was a "shoreland," but its position is doubtful (see Deuteronomy 2:23); the Caphtorim found an earlier race of Avim living in "enclosures" near Gaza, and destroyed them. In the Septuagint of this passage (and in Amos 9:7) Cappadocia stands for Caphtor (Kaphtor), and other versions have the same reading. Cappadocia was known to the Assyrians as kat-pat-uka (probably an Akkadian term-"land of the Kati"), and the Kati were a people living in Cilicia and Cappadocia, which region had a Semitic population side by side with Mengels (see HITTITES) at least as early as the time of Moses. It is very likely therefore that this reading is correct.

2. Religion:

According to the Old Testament and monuments alike, the Philistines were a Semitic people, and they worshipped two Babylonian gods, Dagon (1 Samuel 5:2) and Ashtaroth (1 Samuel 31:10), both of whom were adored very early in Babylonia, both, however, having names of Akkadian and not of Semitic origin. In Semitic speech Dagon meant "grain," and was so understood in the time of Philo of Gebal, a Greek-Phoenician writer who attributes the art of grain-growing to this deity. But the original name was Da-gan, and in Akkadian da is "the upper part of a man," and gan (Turkish qaan) probably means "a large fish." The new man deity was well known to the Assyrians, and is represented in connection with Sennacherib's worship of Ea, the sea-god, when he embarked on the Persian Gulf. Thus Dagon was probably a title of Ea ("the water spirit"), called by Berosus Oannes (u-ha-na, "lord of the fish"), and said to have issued from this same gulf. We consequently read that when the statue of Dagon at Ashdod fell (1 Samuel 5:4), its head and hands were broken off, and only "the great fish" was left. In 1874 the present writer found a seal near Ashdod representing a bearded god (as in Babylonia) with a fish tail (see DAGON). As to Ashtoreth, who was adored in Philistia itself, her name is derived from the Akkadian Ishtar ("light maker"), a name for the moon-goddess and-later-for the planet Venus.

See ASHTORETH.

3. Individual Philistines Mentioned:

The Philistines had reached Gerar by the time of Abraham, and it was only in the age of the Hyksos rulers of the Delta that Canaanite tribes could be described as akin, not only to Babylonians, but also to certain tribes in Egypt, a circumstance which favors the antiquity of the ethnic chapter, Genesis 10. We have 9 Philistine names in the Old Testament, all of which seem to be Semitic, including Abimelech-"Moloch is my father"-(Genesis 20:2-18; Genesis 21:22-32; 26:8-11) at Gerar, Southeasat of Gaza, Ahuzzath ("possession," Genesis 26:26), and Phicol (of doubtful meaning), with Delilah ("delicate," Judges 16:4), Goliath (probably the Babylonian galu, "great"), and Saph (2 Samuel 21:18), perhaps meaning "increase." These two brothers were sons of Raphah ("the tall"); but Ishbi-benob (2 Samuel 21:16), another of the family, perhaps only means "the dweller in Nob" (Beit Nuba, North of Gezer). The king of Gath in David's time was Achish ("the gift" in Bah), who (1 Samuel 27:2) was the son of Maoch, "the oppressor." According to Septuagint, Jonathan killed a Philistine named Nasib (1 Samuel 13:3, 4, where the King James Version reads "a garrison"). If this is correct the name (meaning "a pillar") would also be Semitic.

4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision:

Besides these personal names, and those of the cities of Philistia which are all Semitic, we have the title given to Philistine lords, ceren, which Septuagint renders "satrap" and "ruler," and which probably comes from a Semitic root meaning "to command." It constantly applies to the rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron, the 5 chief cities of Philistia. The fact that the Philistines were uncircumcised does not prove that they were not a Semitic people. Herodotus (ii.104) says that the Phoenicians acknowledged that they took this custom from the Egyptians, and the Arabs according to this passage were still uncircumcised, nor is it known that this was a custom of the Babylonians and Assyrians. The Septuagint translators of the Pentateuch always render the name Phulistieim, and this also is found in 8 passages of Joshua and Judges, but in the later books the name is translated as meaning "strangers" throughout, because they were not the first inhabitants of Philistia.

5. History in the Old Testament until Death of Saul:

The Philistines conquered the "downs" (geliloth, Joel 3:4) near the seacoast, and were so powerful at the time of the Hebrew conquest that none of their great towns were taken (Joshua 13:3 Judges 3:3). By the time of Samson (about 1158 B.C.) they appear as oppressors of Israel for 40 years (Judges 13:1; Judges 15:20), having encroached from their plains into the Shephelah (or low hills) of Judah, at the foot of the mountains. Delilah was a Philistine woman, living in the valley of Sorek, close to Samson's home. In the last year of Eli (1 Samuel 4:1) we find the Philistines attacking the mountains near Mizpeh, where they captured the ark. Samuel drove them back and placed his monument of victory between Mizpeh and Jeshanah (Shen; see the Septuagint; 1 Samuel 7:12) on the mountain ridge of Benjamin. He even regained towns in the Shephelah as far as Ekron and Gath (1 Samuel 7:14); but at the opening of Saul's reign (1 Samuel 10:5) the Philistines had a "garrison" at Gibeah-or a chief named Hasib according to Septuagint. They raided from this center (1 Samuel 13:17-23) in all directions, and prevented the Hebrews from arming themselves, till Jonathan drove them from Michmash (1 Samuel 14:1-47). David's victory (1 Samuel 17:2) was won in the Valley of Elah East of Gath, and the pursuit (1 Samuel 17:52) was as far as Ekron. We here read that the Philistine champion wore armor of bronze (1 Samuel 17:4-7), his spear head being of iron. They still invaded the Shephelah after this defeat, robbing the threshing-floors of Keilah (1 Samuel 23:1) near Adullam at the foot of the Hebron Mountains (see 1 Samuel 23:27; 1 Samuel 24:1). David's band of outlaws gradually increasing from 400 to 600 men (1 Samuel 22:2; 1 Samuel 27:2), being driven from the Hebrew lands, accompanied him to Gath, which is usually placed at Tell es-Safi, at the point where the Valley of Elah enters the Philistine plain. It appears that Achish, king of Gath, then ruled as far South as Ziklag (Joshua 15:31 1 Samuel 27:6) in the Beersheba plains; but he was not aware of the direction of David's raids at this distance. Achish supposed David to be committed to his cause (1 Samuel 27:12), but the Philistine lords suspected him and his Hebrew followers (1 Samuel 29:3) when going up to Jezreel.

6. History Continued to Time of Ahaz:

After they had killed Saul, we hear no more of them till the 8th year of David, when, after taking Jerusalem, he apparently went down to Adullam (2 Samuel 5:17) and fell upon them in their rear as they advanced on his capital. He then destroyed their supremacy (2 Samuel 8:1) as far as Gezer (1 Chronicles 20:4), and the whole of Philistia was subject to Solomon (1 Kings 4:21), though not long after his death they seem to have held the town of Gibbethon (1 Kings 15:27; 1 Kings 16:15) in the hills of Dan. Hezekiah smote the Philistines as far as Gaza (2 Kings 18:8) before 702 B.C., in which year (according to the Taylor cylinder) Sennacherib made Hezekiah deliver up Padii, king of Ekron, who had been carried prisoner to Jerusalem. The accounts in Chronicles refer to David's taking Gath (1 Chronicles 18:1), which was recovered later, and again taken by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6). The Philistines sent gifts to Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:11), but invaded the Shephelah (2 Chronicles 28:18) in the time of Ahaz.

7. Later Notices:

In this age the "lords" of the 5 cities of Philistia are called "kings," both in the Bible and on Assyrian monuments. Isaiah (2:6) speaks of Philistine superstitions, Ezekiel (25:15, 16) connects them with the Cherethim on the seacoast. They still held Gath in the time of Amos (6:2), and Gaza, Ashdod and Ekron in that of Zephaniah (2:5), who again mentions the Cherethim with Philistines, as inhabitants of Canaan or the "lowlands." The last notice (Zechariah 9:6) still speaks of kings in Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod at a time when the Ionians had become known in Judah (Zechariah 9:13); but the Philistines are unnoticed by Ezra or Nehemiah, unless we suppose that the "speech of Ashdod" (Nehemiah 13:24) was their old dialect, which appears-like the language of the Canaanites in general in earlier times-to have resembled that of the Babylonians and Assyrians, and to have thus differed-though Semitic-from the Hebrews.

Their further history is embraced in that of the various cities to which reference can be made under the articles pertaining to them.

II. Monumental Notices.

1. Palestinian Excavations:

These are of great importance, because they confirm the Old Testament statements from a time at least as early as that of Moses, and down to 670 B.C. Recent excavations at Gezer show the early presence of two races at this Philistine city, one being Semitic, the other probably Egyptian Scarabs as old as the XIIth Dynasty were found, and in the 15th century B.C. Gezer was held by Amenophis III. At Lachish also seals of this king and his queen have been found, with a cuneiform letter to Zimridi, who was ruler of the city under the same Pharaoh. At Gaza a temple was built by Amenophis II. The names of places in Philistia noticed yet earlier by Thothmes III are all Semitic, including Joppa, Saphir, Gerar, Gezer, etc. In the Tell el-Amarna Letters we have also (about 1480 B.C.) letters from chiefs subject to Amenophis III at Joppa, Ashkelon, Gezer, Lachish and Keilah which show us a Semitic population, not only by the language of these letters, but also by the names of the writers. In the case of Ashkelon especially the Semitic rulers are found to have worshipped Dagon; and, though the name "Philistine" does not occur, the race was clearly the same found by the Assyrians in 800 B.C. in the land of Palastan beside the Great Sea. These names include Yamir-Dagdn ("Dagon sees"), Dagantakala ("Dagon is a protection") and Yadaya (the "grateful") at Ashkelon; Bua ("asked for"), son of the woman Gulata, at Joppa; Yabnilu ("God made"), at Lachish, with Zimridi-a name found also in Sabean Arabic; while, at Gezer, Yapa'a represents the Biblical Japhia (Joshua 10:3), and Milkilu ("Moloch is king") the Hebrew Malchiel. Others might be added of the same character, but these examples are enough to show that, in the time of Moses and Joshua, the population of Philistia was the same that is noticed in the Old Testament as early as Abraham's age.

2. Egyptian Monuments:

When therefore scholars speak of the Philistines as being non-Semitic-and probably Aryan-invaders of the country, arriving about 1200 B.C., they appear not only to contradict the Bible, but also to contradict the monumental evidence of the earlier existence of Semitic Dagon-worshippers at Ashkelon. In this later age Rameses III was attacked, in Egypt, by certain northern tribes who came by sea, and also by land, wasting first the country of the Hittites and Amorites. Among them were the Danau, who were probably Greek Danai. They were exterminated in the Delta, and in the subsequent advance of Rameses III to the Euphrates. On a colored picture they are represented as fair people; and two of the tribes were called Purstau and Takarri, whom Chabas supposed to be Pelasgi (since "l" and "r" are not distinguished in Egyptian) and Teucrians. These two tribes wear the same peculiar headdress. Brugsch supposed the former to be Philistines (Geog., I, 10), but afterward called them Purosata (Hist Egypt, II, 148). The inscriptions accompanying the picture on the temple walls say that they came from the north, and "their home was in the land of the Purstau, the Takarri," etc. There is thus no reason at all to suppose that they were Philistines, nor did they ever settle in Philistia.

3. Assyrian Texts:

The Assyrian texts agree with those already mentioned in making the inhabitants of Philistia Semitic. Rimmon-nirari, about 800 B.C., was the first Assyrian conqueror in Palastau ("by the great sea"). In 734 and 727 B.C., Tiglath-pileser attacked the Pilisti, and mentions a king of Ashkelon named Mitinti ("my gift"), and his son Rukufti whose name resembles that of the Kenite called Rechab in the Old Testament. The name of the king of Gaza was Chanun, or "merciful." In 711 B.C. Sargon took Ashdod, and speaks of its king Azuri, whose name recalls the Amorite Aziru, and of Achimiti ("a brother is sent"), and the usurper Yamanu ("stedfast"), who fled before him. Sennacherib, in 702 B.C., gives the names of cities in Philistia (including Eltekeh and Beneberak near Joppa) which are Semitic. He notices Sidqa (Zadok) of Ashkelon, and also Sarludari ("the Lord be praised"), son of Rukubti in the same city, with Mitinti of Ashdod, and Padii ("redeeming") of Ekron, while Cil-b'el ("Baal is a protection") was king of Gaza. In 679 B.C. Esarhaddon speaks of Silli-b'el ("Baal is my protection") of Gaza, with Mitinti of Ashkelon, Ika-samsu ("the sun-god is manifest") of Ekron, and Abi-milki of Ashdod, who bore the ancient Philistine name Abimelech. In 670 B.C., when Assur-bani-pal set up many tributary kings in Egypt, we find again the name Sarludari applied to a ruler of Pelusium, who may have been a Philistine. It is thus abundantly clear that the monumental notices all agree with the Old Testament as to the names and nationality of the Philistines, and as to their worship of Baal and Dagon; the conjecture that they were Aryan foreigners, arriving in 1200 B.C., is not based on any statement of the monuments, but merely rests on a guess which Brugsch subsequently abandoned. It resembles many other supposed discrepancies between Biblical and contemporary records due to the mistakes of modern commentators.

III. The Cretan Theory.

1. Cherethim and Kretes:

This strange theory, which is apparently of Byzantine origin, would make the Philistines come from Crete. It still finds supporters, though it does not rest on any Biblical or monumental evidence. The Cherethim (Ezekiel 25:16 Zephaniah 2:5) were a Semitic people named with the Philistines in Canaan. The Septuagint renders the word with Kretes or Kretoi; and, about 1770 A.D., Michaelis (Spicil., I, 292-308) argued that this meant "Cretans," and that the Philistines therefore came from Caphtor, which must be Crete. The passages, however, refer to Philistia and not to any island, and the Septuagint translators, as we have seen, placed Caphtor in Cappadocia. The Cherethi-in the singular-is mentioned (1 Samuel 30:14) as a people of Philistia (1 Samuel 30:16), near Ziklag, and their name probably survives at the present town called Keratiyeh in the Philistine plain.

Yet, many theories are founded on this old idea about the Cherethites. Some suppose that Tacitus confused the Jews with the Philistines as having come from Crete; but what he actually says (History v.11) is that "the Jews ran away from Crete," and "the inhabitants are named Idaci (from Mount Ida), which, with a barbarous augment, becomes the name of the Judaei." This absurd derivation shows at least that Tacitus did not mean the Philistines. Stephen of Byzantium said that the god Marna at Gaza was like the Cretan Jove. Probably he had seen the huge statue of a seated Jove found near Gaza, and now at Constantinople, but this is late Greek work, and the name Marna ("our lord") is Semitic. Stephen also thought that Minois-the port of Gaza-was named from the Cretan Minos, but it is an Arabic word Mineh, for "harbor," still applying to the same place.

2. Caphtor and Keft:

No critical student is likely to prefer these later speculations to our present monumental information, even without reference to the contradiction of the Bible. Yet these blunders have given rise to the supposition that Caphtor is to be identified with a region known to the Egyptians as Keft, with inhabitants called Kefau. The latter are represented in a tomb of the XVIIIth Dynasty near Thebes. They are youths of brown color, with long black hair, and the same type is found in a Cypriote figure. They are connected with islanders of the "green sea," who may have lived in Arvad or in Cyprus; but there is no evidence in any written statement that they were Cretans, though a figure at Knossos in Crete somewhat resembles them. There are many indications that this figure-painted on the wall of the later palace-is not older than about 500 B.C., and the Sidonians had colonies in Crete, where also pottery is found just like that marked by a Phoenician inscription in Cyprus. The Kefau youths bring vases as presents, and these-in all their details-are exactly the same as those represented in another picture of the time of Thothrues III, the bearers in this case being Harri from North Syria, represented with black beards and Semitic features. Moreover, on the bilingual inscription called the Decree of Canopus (238 B.C.), the Keft region is said to be "Phoenicia," and the Greek translator naturally knew what was meant by his Egyptian colleague. Keft in fact is a Semitic word for "palm," occurring in Hebrew (Isaiah 9:14; Isaiah 19:15), and thus applicable to the "palm"-land, Phoenicia. Thus, even if Keft were related to Caphtor, the evidence would place the Philistine home on the Phoenician shores, and not in Crete. There is indeed no evidence that any European race settled near the coasts of Palestine before about 680 B.C., when Esarhaddon speaks of Greek kings in Cyprus. The Cretan theory of Michaelis was a literary conjecture, which has been disproved by the results of exploration in Asia.

IV. David's Guards.

1. The "Cherethi" and the "Pelethi" Not Mercenaries:

Another strange theory, equally old, represents David as being surrounded with foreign mercenaries-Philistines and Carians-as Rameses II employed mercenaries called Shairtanau from Asia Minor. The suggestion that the Cherethites were of this race is scarcely worth notice, since the Hebrew letter kaph (k) is never represented by "sh" in Egyptian David's band of Hebrew exiles, 400 in number, followed him to Gath where 200 Gittites joined him (2 Samuel 15:18). In later times his army consisted of "the Cherethi" (kerethi, in the singular) and "the Pelethi" (pelethi), commanded by the Hebrew leader Benaiah, son of Jehoiada (2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7 1 Kings 1:38, 44), together with the Gittites under Ittai of Gath. These guards are never said to have been Philistines, but "the Cherethi" is supposed to mean one of the Cherethim tribe, and "the Pelethi" to be another name for the Philistine. As regards the Gittites, the fact that they came from Gath does not prove that they were Philistines, any more than was David himself because he came back from this city. David calls Ittai an "enemy" and an "exile," but it is probable that he was the same hero, so named (2 Samuel 23:29), who was the son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin. He had himself not long joined David, being no doubt in exile at Gath, and his tribe at first opposed David, taking the side of their tribesman Saul. Even when Ittai's men joined the Cherethi and Pelethi against Absalom, they were naturally suspected; for David still had enemies (2 Samuel 15:5-13) among Benjamites of Saul's house. It is also surely impossible to suppose that David would have left the ark in charge of a Phili; and Obed-edom the Gittite (2 Samuel 6:10) was a Levite, according to a later account (1 Chronicles 15:18), bearing a Hebrew name, meaning perhaps "servant of men," or "humble worshipper." It seems equally unlikely that, in later times, a pious priest like Jehoiada (2 Kings 11:4) would have admitted foreign mercenaries into the temple. In this passage they are called kari, as also in 2 Samuel 20:23, where the Septuagint has Cherethi. The suggestion of Wellhausen that they were Carians does not seem probable, as Carians had not even reached Egypt before about 600 B.C.

2. Meaning of These Terms:

The real explanation of these various words for soldiers seems simple; and David-being a very popular king-is not likely to have needed foreign mercenaries; while the Philistines, whom he had so repeatedly smitten, were very unlikely to have formed trusty guards. The word "Cherethi" (kerethi) means a "smiter" or a "destroyer," and "Pelethi" (pelethi) means "a swift one" or "pursuer." In the time of Joash the temple-guards are called kari (2 Kings 11:4, 19, Carites), which the Septuagint treats as either singular or plural, and ratsim or "runners" (see 1 Samuel 22:17 1 Kings 14:27, 28; 2 Kings 10:25), these two bodies perhaps answering to the Cherethi and Pelethi of David's time; for kari means "stabber." The term ratsim, or "runners," is however of general application, since Jehu also had troops so called (2 Kings 10:25). Evidently we have here two classes of troops-as among the Romans-the heavier regiment of "destroyers," or "stabbers," being armed with swords, daggers or spears; while the "swift ones" or "runners" pursued the defeated foe. Thus, in Egypt we find, yet earlier, the ax-man supported by the bow-man in regular regiments; and in Assyria the spear-man with heavy shields defending the bow-man. We have also a picture of the time of Tiglath-pileser II representing an Assyrian soldier on a camel. The Pelethi or "pursuers" may have been "runners" on foot, but perhaps more probably mounted on camels, or on horses like the later Assyrians; for in the time of Solomon (1 Kings 4:28) horses and riding camels were in use-the former for chariots. It is clear that David's band, leaving the vicinity of Jezreel (1 Samuel 29:1; 1 Samuel 30:1), could not have reached Ziklag "on the third day" (a distance of 120 miles) on foot; so that the camel corps must have existed even before the death of Saul.

3. Native Hebrews:

These considerations seem to make it evident that David's guards were native Hebrews, who had been with him as exiles and outlaws at Adullam and Gath, and that the Cherethi or "destroyer" only accidentally had a title like that of the Philistine tribe of "destroyers" or Cherethim, who were not Cretans, it would seem, any more than the "stabbers" were Carians.

4. Review:

The general result of our inquiry is, that all monumental notices of the Philistines agree with the Old Testament statements, which make them to be a Semitic people who had already migrated to Philistia by the time of Abraham, while the supposed discrepancies are caused by the mistakes made by a commentator of the 18th century, and by archaeologists of later times.

LITERATURE

Paton, Early History of Syria and Palestine; Smith, HGHL; Budge, History of Egypt; Breasted, History of Egypt; Rawlinson, Ancient Monarchies; Herodotus with most histories of Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria for the period from the 13th century B.C. to the time of Alexander.

C. R. Conder

PHILISTINES, SEA OF THE

(Exodus 23:31).

See MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

PHILISTINES, LORDS OF THE

See PHILISTIA.

SEA OF THE PHILISTINES

See MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

Strong's Hebrew

831. Ashqelon -- a city of the Philistines
... 830, 831. Ashqelon. 832 . a city of the Philistines. Transliteration: Ashqelon
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-kel-one') Short Definition: Ashkelon. ...
/hebrew/831.htm - 6k

3695. Kasluchim -- a people desc. from Mizraim, probably ancestors ...
... a people desc. from Mizraim, probably ancestors of the Philistines. Transliteration:
Kasluchim Phonetic Spelling: (kas-loo'-kheem) Short Definition: Casluh. ...
/hebrew/3695.htm - 6k

1712. Dagon -- a god and an idol of the Philistines
... 1711, 1712. Dagon. 1713 . a god and an idol of the Philistines. Transliteration:
Dagon Phonetic Spelling: (daw-gohn') Short Definition: Dagon. ...
/hebrew/1712.htm - 6k

795. Ashdod -- a city of the Philistines
... 794, 795. Ashdod. 796 . a city of the Philistines. Transliteration: Ashdod
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-dode') Short Definition: Ashdod. ...
/hebrew/795.htm - 6k

6430. Pelishti -- inhab. of Philistia
... inhab. of Philistia. Transliteration: Pelishti Phonetic Spelling: (pel-ish-tee')
Short Definition: Philistines. Word Origin from Pelesheth Definition inhab. ...
/hebrew/6430.htm - 6k

6429. Pelesheth -- a territory on the S. Mediterranean coast of ...
... Palestina, Palestine, Philistia, Philistines. From palash; rolling, ie Migratory;
Pelesheth, a region of Syria -- Palestina, Palestine, Philistia, Philistines. ...
/hebrew/6429.htm - 6k

3731. Kaphtor -- probably a name for Crete
... Or (Am. 9:7) Kaphtowr {kaf-tore'}; apparently the same as kaphtor; Caphtor (ie A
wreath-shaped island), the original seat of the Philistines -- Caphtor. ...
/hebrew/3731.htm - 6k

Library

The Expedition of the Philistines against the Hebrews and the ...
... CHAPTER 2. The Expedition Of The Philistines Against The Hebrews And The Hebrews'
Victory Under The Conduct Of Samuel The Prophet, Who Was Their General. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 the expedition of.htm

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition against the Hebrews ...
... From The Death Of Eli To The Death Of Saul. CHAPTER 6. How The Philistines
Made Another Expedition Against The Hebrews And Were Beaten. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the philistines.htm

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition against the Hebrews ...
... CHAPTER 9. How The Philistines Made Another Expedition Against The Hebrews Under
The Reign Of Saul; And How They Were Overcome By David's Slaying Goliath In ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how the philistines.htm

The Philistines, victorious in this Prosperous Battle, Brought the ...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter XXXI. The Philistines,
victorious in this prosperous battle, brought the ark of God� ...
/.../chapter xxxi the philistines victorious.htm

How David Brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the ...
... CHAPTER 5. How David Brought Under The Philistines, And The Moabites, And The Kings
Of Sophene And Of Damascus, And Of The Syrians As Also The Idumeans, In War ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how david brought.htm

The Ark among the Philistines
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THE ARK AMONG THE PHILISTINES. In those days the Israelites
went out to meet the Philistines, and in a hard-fought ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the ark among the philistines.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... CHAPTER III"THE HEBREWS AND THE PHILISTINES"DAMASCUS. THE ISRAELITES
IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES"THE PHILISTINES AND ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

At that Time Samson Ruled Over the Hebrews, the Philistines Having ...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter XXVIII. At that time Samson
ruled over the Hebrews, the Philistines having been subdued by the� ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxviii at that time.htm

The Destruction that came Upon the Philistines, and Upon
... Containing The Interval Of Thirty-Two Years. From The Death Of Eli To The Death
Of Saul. CHAPTER 1. The Destruction That Came Upon The Philistines, And Upon. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 the destruction that.htm

That when David had Conquered the Philistines who Made War against ...
... CHAPTER 4. That When David Had Conquered The Philistines Who Made War Against Him
At Jerusalem, He Removed The Ark To Jerusalem And Had A Mind To Build A Temple ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 that when david.htm

Thesaurus

Philistines (224 Occurrences)
... The Philistines are called Pulsata or Pulista on the Egyptian monuments; the land
of the Philistines (Philistia) being termed Palastu and Pilista in the ...
/p/philistines.htm - 75k

Caphtor (4 Occurrences)
... A chaplet, the original seat of the Philistines (Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4;
Amos 9:7). The name is found written in hieroglyphics in the temple of Kom ...
/c/caphtor.htm - 11k

Keilah (16 Occurrences)
... David rescued it from the attack of the Philistines (1 Samuel 23:1-8); but the
inhabitants proving unfaithful to him, in that they sought to deliver him up to ...
/k/keilah.htm - 15k

Ashkelon (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary =Askelon=Ascalon, was one of the five cities
of the Philistines (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17). It stood ...
/a/ashkelon.htm - 13k

Delilah (7 Occurrences)
... She was bribed by the "lords of the Philistines" to obtain from Samson the secret
of his strength and the means of overcoming it (Judges 16:4-18). ...
/d/delilah.htm - 10k

Michmash (10 Occurrences)
... This was the scene of a great battle fought between the army of Saul and the
Philistines, who were utterly routed and pursued for some 16 miles towards ...
/m/michmash.htm - 14k

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Samuel 23:1 And they told David, saying: 'Behold, the Philistines are
fighting against Keilah, and they rob the threshing-floors.' (See RSV). ...
/k/kei'lah.htm - 10k

Philistia (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary =Palestine (qv), "the land of the Philistines" (Psalm
60:8; 87:4; 108:9). The word is supposed to mean "the land o. Int. ...
/p/philistia.htm - 12k

Caphtorim (3 Occurrences)
... 1. First Theory: Crete: The country and people whence came the Philistines (Genesis
10:14 = 1 Chronicles 1:12 (here the clause "whence went forth the ...
/c/caphtorim.htm - 10k

Subdued (41 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within
the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against ...
/s/subdued.htm - 19k

Bible Concordance

Philistines (224 Occurrences)

Genesis 10:14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 21:32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Abimelech rose up with Phicol, the captain of his army, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 21:34 Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:1 There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:8 It happened, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:15 Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:18 Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 13:17 It happened, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God didn't lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt;"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Exodus 23:31 I will set your border from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 13:2 "This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 3:3 namely, the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 3:31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad: and he also saved Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 10:6 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn't serve him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 10:7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 10:11 Yahweh said to the children of Israel, "Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 13:1 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 13:5 for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 14:2 He came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me as wife."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 14:3 Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson said to his father, "Get her for me; for she pleases me well."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 14:4 But his father and his mother didn't know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:3 Samson said to them, "This time I will be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I harm them."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:5 When he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:6 Then the Philistines said, "Who has done this?" They said, "Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion." The Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:9 Then the Philistines went up, and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, "Don't you know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" He said to them, "As they did to me, so have I done to them."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:12 They said to him, "We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines." Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not fall on me yourselves."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 15:20 He judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:5 The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, "Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:9 Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner chamber. She said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:12 So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" The ambush was waiting in the inner chamber. He broke them off his arms like a thread.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:14 She fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:20 She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free." But he didn't know that Yahweh had departed from him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:21 The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground at the mill in the prison.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:23 The lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, "Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Samson performed.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:28 Samson called to Yahweh, and said, "Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 16:30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were therein. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 4:1 The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 4:2 The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 4:3 When the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has Yahweh struck us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Shiloh to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 4:6 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" They understood that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 4:7 The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before.
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1 Samuel 4:9 Be strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight!"
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1 Samuel 4:10 The Philistines fought, and Israel was struck, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
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1 Samuel 4:17 He who brought the news answered, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured."
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1 Samuel 5:1 Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
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1 Samuel 5:2 The Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
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1 Samuel 5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath." They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.
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1 Samuel 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
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1 Samuel 6:1 The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
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1 Samuel 6:2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."
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1 Samuel 6:4 Then they said, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
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1 Samuel 6:12 The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
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1 Samuel 6:16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
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1 Samuel 6:17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
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1 Samuel 6:18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
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1 Samuel 6:21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down, and bring it up to yourselves."
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1 Samuel 7:3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
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1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
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1 Samuel 7:8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."
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1 Samuel 7:10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
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1 Samuel 7:11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.
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1 Samuel 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
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1 Samuel 7:14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and its border did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
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1 Samuel 9:16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me."
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1 Samuel 10:5 "After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall happen, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tambourine, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying:
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1 Samuel 12:9 "But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
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1 Samuel 13:3 Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"
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1 Samuel 13:4 All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
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1 Samuel 13:5 The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.
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1 Samuel 13:11 Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn't come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;
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1 Samuel 13:12 therefore I said,'Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of Yahweh.' I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering."
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1 Samuel 13:16 Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
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1 Samuel 13:17 The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
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1 Samuel 13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears;"
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1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle;
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1 Samuel 13:23 The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
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1 Samuel 14:1 Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side." But he didn't tell his father.
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1 Samuel 14:4 Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
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1 Samuel 14:11 Both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they had hidden themselves!"
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1 Samuel 14:13 And Jonathan went up, gripping with his hands and his feet, his servant going up after him; and the Philistines gave way before Jonathan when he made an attack on them, and his servant put them to death after him.
(BBE NIV)

1 Samuel 14:19 It happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand!"
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1 Samuel 14:20 Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great confusion.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 14:21 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines as before, and who went up with them into the camp, from the country all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
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1 Samuel 14:22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
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1 Samuel 14:30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines."
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1 Samuel 14:31 They struck of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;
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1 Samuel 14:36 Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near here to God."
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1 Samuel 14:37 Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he didn't answer him that day.
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1 Samuel 14:46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
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1 Samuel 14:47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and wherever he turned himself, he put them to the worse.
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1 Samuel 14:52 There was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.
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1 Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they we

Subtopics

Philistines

Philistines for Their History During the Leadership of Samson See

Philistines: Allowed to Remain in Canaan

Philistines: Army of

Philistines: Called Caphtorim

Philistines: Called Casluhim

Philistines: Called Cherethites

Philistines: David Finds Refuge Among

Philistines: David Kills Two-Hundred Men

Philistines: Defeat the Israelites