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Origin of the Philistines

The origin of the Philistines remains a bit of a mystery, with conflicting opinions over who they were and where they came from.

According to the table of the nations, the Philistines came from the Caphtorim, son of Egypt (Mizraim), the son of Ham (Gen 10:14, 1 Chr 1:12). In the Book of Amos, God asks, “Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir” (Amos 9:7). In Jeremiah’s word against the Philistines, they are described as, “the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor” (Jer 47:4). In his account of the table of the nations, Josephus wrote this about the Philistines, “Now all the children of Mesraim (Egypt), being eight in number possessed the country from Gaza to Egypt, though it retained the name of one only, the Philistim; for the Greeks call part of that country Palestine.” (Jos Ant 1:6:2).

The Book of Deuteronomy appears to identify the Caphtorim with the Philistines, “As for the Avvim, who had lived in settlements in the vicinity of Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place” (Deut 2:23). The prophet Zephaniah links the Philistines with the Cherethites, who are thought to come from Crete, “Ah, inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines ...” (Zeph 2:5).

Where is Caphtor?

The most widely accepted view is that Caphtor should be identified with the ancient Minoan civilization, based in Knossos on the island of Crete, which controlled much of the Aegean area. Other views are that Capthor is the island of Cyprus, Cilicia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, or in the eastern part of the Nile delta region of Egypt, the region of Pelusium.

The Sea peoples

Egyptian inscriptions include descriptions of ‘sea peoples’ who came to Egypt around the 13th century BC. The sea peoples are mentioned in inscriptions of Merenptah, Rameses II, and in the Amarna letters from the 14th century BC. Ramases III led campaigns against an invasion against Libyans and sea peoples, which included a group called ‘prst’ around 1185 BC. It is likely that Philistines should be included as one of the peoples in the wider group of sea peoples.

Pictures of their armour, especially their distinctive feathered head-dress from a horizontal band are found on Egyptian reliefs, particularly from a temple in Medinet Habu, showing sea people arriving with their families by wagon and ship.

If the sea people can be identified as the Philistines, then it seems that they failed to invade Egypt, so settled along the coast of Canaan from Joppa to Gaza, establishing their five leading cities of Ekron, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Gaza. The kings of the Philistines are sometimes described as the five lords of the Philistines. The modern name ‘Palestine’ is derived from Philistia, the land of the Philistines.

However, according to the Book of Genesis, there were Philistines in the land of Canaan much earlier, in the time of the patriarchs. Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines (Gen 21:34). Later, during a famine, Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines (Gen 26:1). Both Abraham and Isaac made a covenant with the Philistines.

The Exodus

By the time the Israelites left Egypt, the Philistines had already settled in the coastal strip between Egypt and Gaza. To avoid facing war, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines (Ex 13:17). God set the boundaries of the Promised Land from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines (Ex 23:31), meaning the Mediterranean coast, where the Captorim lived (Deut 2:23).

Joshua and Judges

There appears to have been no contact with the Philistines during the initial conquest of the Promised Land. When Joshua was an old man, the Philistines and their five cities were listed in the groups of people that he had never conquered (Josh 13:2-3). They became one of the main enemies of Israel with about 270 references in the Bible, and a constant problem to Israel for several hundred years.

God used the five lords of the Philistines and other peoples in the land to test whether the Israelites would obey the commandments of the LORD, and so they would learn to fight (Judges 3:2-3). The judge Shamgar, son of Anath, temporarily delivered Israel by killing 600 Philistines with an oxgoad (Judges 3:31). Israel was later condemned by God for worshipping the gods of the Philistines, after which Israel was oppressed by the Philistines and the Ammonites (Judges 10:6-9).

Samson

The last judge was Samson who performed heroic raids and exploits against the Philistines (Judges 13-16). He would raid the Philistine area then take refuge in the hill-country. He married a Philistine woman named Timnah, and had relations with a Philistine prostitute called Delilah, who deceived him. She had his head shaved, taking away his strength. She then gave him over to the lords of the Philistines, who blinded him and bound him with bronze fetters (Judges 16:21). Later they made Samson perform for them in front of 3000 people. He was standing between the two main pillars of the temple to Dagon, with his hair regrown, and his strength regained. He leaned his weight against the pillars and the temple collapsed killing all the Philistines within (Judges 16:23-30).

Samuel

The Philistines had a more advanced material civilisation than the Israelites. They were able to create kilns which could be made hot enough to smelt iron, making much stronger implements and weapons. The Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen their farm implements, but in exchange were forbidden to make swords or spears (1 Sam 13:19-22).

In the time of the prophet Samuel, the Philistines defeated Israel in battle at Aphek. They were able to capture the ark of the covenant (even though it led to problems for the Philistines), and destroy the shrine at Shiloh (1 Sam 4, Jer 7:12). The glory had departed from Israel (1 Sam 4:22). God had used the Philistines to discipline the ungodly sons of Eli. As a result of this, the Philistines had expanded their territory to include the Negeb and much of the hill country.

Saul

The continuing threat from the Philistines probably contributed to the call for Israel to have a strong military leader, a king, like the other nations (1 Sam 8:10-12). Saul and Jonathan were victorious over the Philistines and drove them out of the hill country (1 Sam 14). After the young David was anointed king to replace Saul, the Philistines gathered at Ephes-dammim facing the Israelites in the valley of Elah. This was the setting for David killing Goliath (1 Sam 17).

Because of Saul’s jealousy, David became an outlaw, and had to flee to the Philistines, seeking refuge with Achish, the king of Gath (1 Sam 27 - 29, Ps 34, 56). They Philistines finally defeated Saul at the Battle of Mount Gilboa, when Saul killed himself rather than be humiliated by the Philistines (1 Sam 31).

David

David had positive a relationship with the Philistines in Gath, and maintained a private body-guard consisting of the Cherethites and Pelethites under the command of Benaiah son of Jehoiada (2 Sam 8:18, 20:23, 1 Chr 18:17). They, along with the Gittites from Gath, remained loyal to David during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam 15:18). They were present when Solomon was anointed king (1 Kg 1:38,44). It is thought that the Cherethites were Cretans and the Pelethites were Philistines, both of whom came from Crete.

The final defeat of the Philistines came when they gathered to attack David. God gave him victory, after which David drove them out of the hill country, and attacked their heartland. This finally put an end to the long-lasting threat from the Philistines (2 Sam 5:17-25).

Divided monarchy

The Philistines had been weakened by David, but continued to cause trouble to the southern kingdom of Judah. During the reign of Rehoboam, Gath was built up to defend Judah, but the other Philistine cities remained independent (2 Chr 11:8). They also had frontier skirmishes with the northern kingdom of Israel, at Gibbethon (1 Kg 15:27, 16:15). In Judah, Jehoshaphat received tribute from the Philistines (2 Chr 17:11).

Assyria

Philistia is mentioned in many Assyrian inscriptions, often describing an area in rebellion against Assyrian rule. An inscription of Adad-nirari II (810-782 BC) mentions Israel and Philistia as states paying tribute to Assyria. Annals of Tiglath-pileser III, Sargon, and Sennacherib also mention the Philistines as defeated rebels.

Zechariah

The final time the Philistines are mentioned in the OT is in the oracle of Zechariah, predicting the destruction of the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod, when God will make an end of the pride of Philistia (Zech 9:5-8). Pompey incorporated them into the Roman province of Syria in 62 BC.

Language

The language of the Philistines is unknown as no inscriptions have been found. It seems that the Philistines adopted the words from the peoples they dispossessed.

Philistine religion

Three Philistine gods are mentioned in the OT, Dagon, Ashtoreth and Baalzebub, all of which are worshipped by other peoples in the Ancient Near East. They probably identified their own gods with gods they encountered in the land of Canaan, and adapted their religious cult to these. Very little is known about religious practices, and no temple has been excavated. They evidently took idols or charms into battle (2 Sam 5:21). Dagon was the principle deity. The ark of the covenant was placed in the temple of Dagon in Gaza (1 Sam 5:3), where they offered a great sacrifice before humiliating Samson (Judges 16:23-27). However, very little is known about the origin of the name of the god, or his precise nature.

Prophetic oracles against Philistines

Jeremiah

The longest prophet oracle against the Philistines was given by Jeremiah (Jer 47:1-7), with the title, “The word of the Lord that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza” (v1).

The prophecy is dated ‘before Pharaoh attacked Gaza’ (47:1). This could have been when Pharaoh Necho moved north and killed Josiah at Megiddo in 609 BC. The historian Heroditus says that Necho conquered the city of Kadytis, which might be Gaza, in 609 BC after defeating Josiah. Otherwise, the fulfilment would have been the defeat of Ashkelon by Babylon in 604 BC, when the city was destroyed and the people deported. The fall of Ashkelon prompted King Jehoiakim to proclaim a fast, as Jerusalem was now threatened. This was the occasion when Baruch read Jeremiah's scroll (ch 36).

The judgement is described as a flood from the north (v2). Philistia, the ally of Tyre and Sidon will be destroyed (v4). There is no promise of hope for them. The Philistines had caused continual trouble to Israel, from the time of Samson, until they were finally suppressed by David.

Amos

The cities of Philistia were the second to be addressed by Amos (Amos 1:6-8). They are condemned for carrying entire communities into exile and handing them over to Edom. It is not certain when this atrocity happened. Amos declares that God will send fire on the strongholds of Gaza, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, probably fulfilled by Tiglath-pileser III.

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