Lives of Scripture

The coastal region of five allied Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron) that repeatedly warred with Israel, especially during the judges period through Samson's conflicts with them (Judges 13-16) and their capture and forced return of the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4-6).

The Philistines

Scripture traces the Philistines to Caphtor (Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7), a place commonly identified with Crete. Abraham and Isaac both made treaties with Abimelech of Gerar, whom Genesis calls king of the Philistines (Genesis 21:32-34; 26:1-31). When Israel left Egypt, God led them away from the coastal road through Philistine land in case war made them turn back (Exodus 13:17).

The Philistines worshiped Dagon. They celebrated Samson's capture in his temple, and when they set the captured ark beside his image, Dagon fell on his face before it (Judges 16:23-30; 1 Samuel 5:1-5). In Saul's day they kept Israel from having its own blacksmiths, so that only Saul and Jonathan had sword or spear (1 Samuel 13:19-22). Their champion Goliath of Gath fell to David (1 Samuel 17), but David later fled to Achish king of Gath, first pretending to be insane and later serving him from Ziklag (1 Samuel 21:10-15; 27). Saul and three of his sons died fighting the Philistines on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31). As king, David defeated them (2 Samuel 5:17-25; 8:1), and Ittai of Gath and his men stayed loyal to David when Absalom rebelled (2 Samuel 15:18-22).

Later prophets announced judgment on the Philistines (Amos 1:6-8; Jeremiah 47; Zephaniah 2:4-7), yet Zechariah foresaw a remnant of them belonging to God like a clan in Judah (Zechariah 9:6-7). In Acts, Philip met the Ethiopian on the road down to Gaza and then preached in Azotus, the Philistine city of Ashdod (Acts 8:26-40).