Philistia full
/ref>); 87:4), 'erets pelishtim, "land of the Philistines" (Ge 21:32,34), geloth hapelishtim; Septuagint ge ton Phulistieim, "the regions of the Philistines" (Jos 13:2).
Where is Philistia in the Bible?
Philistia was an ancient region located along the coastal plain of Canaan, in what is now modern-day southern Israel and Palestine. The Philistines, a powerful maritime people, inhabited this territory and frequently clashed with the Israelites during the period of the judges and early monarchy, as recorded throughout the Old Testament. Key biblical figures associated with Philistia include Samson, who fought against the Philistines, and David, whose victory over the giant Goliath became one of the most famous encounters between the Israelites and Philistines. The Philistines appear in numerous biblical books including Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Psalms, and Isaiah, where they represent a persistent external threat to Israel's security and sovereignty. Theologically, the Philistines often symbolize pagan opposition to God's people and serve as a test of Israel's faith and dependence on divine protection.
In Scripture11 biblical books; 7 with study content
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Psalms
- Isaiah
- Joshua
- Judges
- Jeremiah
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Zephaniah
- Zechariah
Philistia
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)/ref>); 87:4), 'erets pelishtim, "land of the Philistines" (Ge 21:32,34), geloth hapelishtim; Septuagint ge ton Phulistieim, "the regions of the Philistines" (Jos 13:2). The Egyptian monuments have Puirsatha, Pulsath (Budge), Peleset (Breasted) and Purasati (HGHL), according to the different voweling of the radicals; the Assyrian form is Palastu or Pilistu, which corresponds very closely to the Egyptian and the Hebrew. The extent of the land is indicated in Jos 13:2 as being from the Shihor, or Brook of Egypt (Revised Version), to the border of Ekron, northward. The eastern border was along the Judean foothills on the line of Beth-shemesh (1Sa 6:9) with the sea on the West. It was a very small country, from 25 to 30 miles in length and with an average width of about half the length, but it was fertile, being an extension of the plain of Sharon, except that along the coast high sand dunes encroached upon the cultivated tract. It contained many towns and villages, the most important being the five so often mentioned in Scripture: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. The population must have been large for the territory, which enabled them to contend successfully with the Israelites, notwithstanding the superiority of position in the hills to the advantage of the latter.
H. Porter
fi-lis'-tim, fil'-is-tim (pelishtim (Ge 10:14, the King James Version)).
See PHILISTINES.