The Promised Land west of the Jordan, after seven long years of war, is finally distributed to Israel's tribes. Lesser cities within its territory include Ziklag, Gibbethon, Gezer and Gerar. Division of enemy landĪt the time of Joshua, the five major cities of the Philistines, each ruled by a lord (prince), are Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3). Later, his son Isaac would also do the same (26:6). Abraham sojourned on their land in and around the city of Gerar "for many days" (Genesis 10:19, 21:34).
Abimelech (which may have been a title), before the birth of Isaac in 1860 B.C., is called the king of Gerar (Genesis 20:2) and later the ruler of these people (26:1). The earliest Biblical reference to them, by name, occurs in the book of Genesis. Strictly speaking, since they did not descend from Canaan (see our chart of Noah's descendants), they are not Canaanites even though they are sometimes lumped together with them (Joshua 13:3). Their location, coupled with their war-like attitude and desire to expand their influence in the region, made them ancient Israel's longest, fiercest, and most implacable enemy.Īccording to the Bible, the Philistines are descendants of Noah's son Ham through Ham's son Mizraim and grandson Casluhim (Genesis 10:13 - 14, 1Chronicles 1:8, 11 - 12).
They were a nation of warriors, trained in the art of war from their youth (1Samuel 17:33) like the city-state of Sparta.
The Philistines occupied the fertile coastal area in the southwestern part of the land of Canaan.
#Reign of kings map commands series
Other articles in this series are listed below. Who was considered a Philistine? Where did they live as a group? Why was their land never fully conquered even though God allocated it to the children of Israel? What were some of the wars the Philistines fought against God's people? This is the first of our five-part series on this close neighbor to Israel.
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