SPECIAL TOPIC: PHILISTINES

SPECIAL TOPIC: PHILISTINES

The Philistines were apparently (but not without doubt) Greeks from the Aegean Islands (i.e. the Sea People). They were the only group of people in this part of the world who were uncircumcised. They were apparently a mercenary force who tried to attack Egypt in the twelfth century B.C. but were defeated by Rameses III (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF EGYPT, D.). They then settled on the southern coast of Palestine where they assimilated the fertility gods of Canaan. They had five major citiy-states, which are delineated in Joshua 13:3: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. They were a major military problem throughout the period of Joshua (the tribe of Dan left their God-given territory and moved to the north) the judges and even throughout the reign of Saul and David (cf. 1 Sam. 17-19). They were subdued by Assyria under Tiglath-pileser III (cf. Zeph. 2:4; see SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA, #19). Later, Egypt regained control of this area under Psammetichus I (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF EGYPT, J.), but lost it again to Neo-Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar II (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON, C.)

The name "Palestine" comes from the word "Philistine."

For further information, see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1048-1052 and The Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 5, pp. 326-333.