The New Student's Reference Work/Philistines

Philistines (fĭl-ĭs′tĭnz) (strangers), a people mentioned in the Bible as in frequent conflict with the Jews. They lived on the coast of the Mediterranean to the southwest of Judea. It has been asserted that they originated in prehistoric Crete. Their first appearance as enemies of Israel was during the period of the Judges. They were subject to five princes who ruled over Gaza, Ashdod, Askalon, Gath and Ekron. In the time of Eli they were so powerful that they even carried away the ark. Saul, the first king of Israel, was engaged in frequent conflicts with them, and both he and his sons fell in a disastrous battle against them at Gilboa. David won many victories over them, and under Solomon most of their territory was annexed, and they continued in subjection to Judah until the reign of Ahaz, three hundred years later, when they revolted and made great havoc in the territory of Judah. Hezekiah, the son and successor of Ahaz, however, subdued them and brought them to obedience, without the aid of the Egyptians. Under the later kings of Judah they appear, from the menaces of the prophets, to have brought many calamities on the Jews — if they did not recover their full independence. In the time of the Maccabees the Philistines were Syrian subjects, and in the time of Herod the Great they appear no longer to have an existence as a separate race or nation, even the name of their country being merged in that of Palestine.