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| The '''Philistines''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] פלשתים, ''plishtim'') (see "other uses" below) were a [[nation|people]] who inhabited the southern coast of [[Canaan]], their territory being named '''Philistia''' in later contexts. Their origin has been debated among scholars, but modern [[archaeology]] has suggested early cultural links with the [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenean]] world in mainland [[Greece]]. Though the Philistines adopted local [[Canaan]]ite culture and language before leaving any written texts, an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin has been suggested for a handful of known Philistine words (See [[Philistine language]]). | | The '''Philistines''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] פלשתים, ''plishtim'') (see "other uses" below) were a [[nation|people]] who inhabited the southern coast of [[Canaan]], their territory being named '''Philistia''' in later contexts. Their origin has been debated among scholars, but modern [[archaeology]] has suggested early cultural links with the [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenean]] world in mainland [[Greece]]. Though the Philistines adopted local [[Canaan]]ite culture and language before leaving any written texts, an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin has been suggested for a handful of known Philistine words (See [[Philistine language]]). |
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| ==Etymology== | | ==Etymology== |
| The etymology of the word into English is from Old French ''Philistin'', from Late Latin ''Philistinus'', from Late Greek ''Philistinoi'', | | The etymology of the word into English is from Old French ''Philistin'', from Late Latin ''Philistinus'', from Late Greek ''Philistinoi'', |
− | from Hebrew ''P'lishtim'', (See, e.g., 1 Samuel 17:26, 17:36; 2 Samuel 1:20; Judges 14:3)."people of P'lesheth" ("Philistia"); cf. Akkadian ''Palastu'', Egyptian ''Palusata''; the word probably is the people's name for itself. [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=Philistine&searchmode=none Etymology Online] cf. the semitic root ''Pelesh'' (lang-he|פלש) which means ''to divide, go through, to roll in, cover or invade''. (Jastrow, Marcus. A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature. New York: Judaica Press, 1989., p.1185) | + | from Hebrew ''P'lishtim'', (See, e.g., 1 Samuel 17:26, 17:36; 2 Samuel 1:20; Judges 14:3)."people of P'lesheth" ("Philistia"); cf. Akkadian ''Palastu'', Egyptian ''Palusata''; the word probably is the people's name for itself. [https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=Philistine&searchmode=none Etymology Online] cf. the semitic root ''Pelesh'' (פלש) which means ''to divide, go through, to roll in, cover or invade''. (Jastrow, Marcus. A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature. New York: Judaica Press, 1989., p.1185) |
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| ==History== | | ==History== |
| If the Philistines are to be identified as one of the "[[Sea Peoples]]" (see ''Origins'' below), then their occupation of Canaan would have to have taken place during the reign of [[Ramesses III]] of the [[Twentieth dynasty of Egypt|Twentieth Dynasty]], ''ca.'' [[1180s BC|1180]] to [[1150s BC|1150 BC]]. Their maritime knowledge presumably would have made them important to the [[Phoenicia]]ns. | | If the Philistines are to be identified as one of the "[[Sea Peoples]]" (see ''Origins'' below), then their occupation of Canaan would have to have taken place during the reign of [[Ramesses III]] of the [[Twentieth dynasty of Egypt|Twentieth Dynasty]], ''ca.'' [[1180s BC|1180]] to [[1150s BC|1150 BC]]. Their maritime knowledge presumably would have made them important to the [[Phoenicia]]ns. |
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− | In Egypt, a people called the ''"Peleset"'' (or, more precisely, ''prst''), generally identified with the Philistines, appear in the [[Medinet Habu]] inscription of [[Ramesses III]] [http://www.courses.psu.edu/cams/cams400w_aek11/mhabtext.html Texts from the Medinet Habu Temple with Reference to the Sea Peoples], where he describes his victory against the [[Sea Peoples]], as well as the [[Onomasticon of Amenope]] (late [[Twentieth Dynasty]]) and [[Papyrus Harris I]], a summary of [[Ramesses III]]'s reign written in the reign of [[Ramesses IV]]. [[Nineteenth-century]] [[Bible]] scholars identified the land of the Philistines (''Philistia'') with ''Palastu'' and ''Pilista'' in [[Assyria]]n inscriptions, according to ''Easton's Bible Dictionary'' (1897). | + | In Egypt, a people called the ''"Peleset"'' (or, more precisely, ''prst''), generally identified with the Philistines, appear in the [[Medinet Habu]] inscription of [[Ramesses III]] [https://www.courses.psu.edu/cams/cams400w_aek11/mhabtext.html Texts from the Medinet Habu Temple with Reference to the Sea Peoples], where he describes his victory against the [[Sea Peoples]], as well as the [[Onomasticon of Amenope]] (late [[Twentieth Dynasty]]) and [[Papyrus Harris I]], a summary of [[Ramesses III]]'s reign written in the reign of [[Ramesses IV]]. [[Nineteenth-century]] [[Bible]] scholars identified the land of the Philistines (''Philistia'') with ''Palastu'' and ''Pilista'' in [[Assyria]]n inscriptions, according to ''Easton's Bible Dictionary'' (1897). |
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| The Philistines occupied the five cities of [[Gaza]], [[Ashkelon]], [[Ashdod]], [[Ekron]], and [[Gath (city)|Gath]], along the coastal strip of southwestern [[Canaan]], that belonged to [[Egypt]] up to the closing days of the [[Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt|Nineteenth Dynasty]] (ended [[1180s BC|1185 BC]]). The [[Bible|biblical]] stories of [[Samson]], [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]], [[Saul the King|Saul]] and [[David]] include accounts of Philistine-[[Israelite]] conflicts. The Philistines long held a [[monopoly]] on [[iron]] smithing (a skill they possibly acquired during conquests in [[Anatolia]]), and the biblical description of [[Goliath]]'s armor is consistent with this iron-smithing technology. | | The Philistines occupied the five cities of [[Gaza]], [[Ashkelon]], [[Ashdod]], [[Ekron]], and [[Gath (city)|Gath]], along the coastal strip of southwestern [[Canaan]], that belonged to [[Egypt]] up to the closing days of the [[Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt|Nineteenth Dynasty]] (ended [[1180s BC|1185 BC]]). The [[Bible|biblical]] stories of [[Samson]], [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]], [[Saul the King|Saul]] and [[David]] include accounts of Philistine-[[Israelite]] conflicts. The Philistines long held a [[monopoly]] on [[iron]] smithing (a skill they possibly acquired during conquests in [[Anatolia]]), and the biblical description of [[Goliath]]'s armor is consistent with this iron-smithing technology. |
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| ===Statements in the Bible=== | | ===Statements in the Bible=== |
− | The Hebrew [[tradition]] recorded in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 10:14 states that the "''Pelishtim''" ('''פְּלִשְׁתִּים''', [[Standard Hebrew]] /pəlištim/, [[Tiberian Hebrew]] /pəlištîm/) proceeded from the "''[[Pathrusim]]''" (פַּתְרֻסִים) and the "''[[Casluhim]]''" (כַּסְלֻחִים), who descended from [[Mizraim]] (מִצְרַיִם, Egypt), son of [[Ham, son of Noah|Ham]]. The Philistines settled "''Pelesheth''" ('''פְּלֶשֶׁת''', [[Standard Hebrew]] /pəléšet/ or /pəlášet/, [[Tiberian Hebrew]] /{{Unicode|pəléšeṯ}}/ or /{{Unicode|Pəlāšeṯ}}/) along the eastern [[Mediterranean]] coast at about the time when the [[Israelites]] settled in the [[Judea|Judean highlands]]. Biblical references to Philistines living in the area before this, at the time of [[Abraham]] or [[Isaac]] (e.g. Gen. 21:32-34), are generally regarded by modern scholars to be anachronisms. | + | The Hebrew [[tradition]] recorded in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 10:14 states that the "''Pelishtim''" ('''פְּלִשְׁתִּים''', [[Standard Hebrew]] /pəlištim/, [[Tiberian Hebrew]] /pəlištîm/) proceeded from the "''[[Pathrusim]]''" (פַּתְרֻסִים) and the "''[[Casluhim]]''" (כַּסְלֻחִים), who descended from [[Mizraim]] (מִצְרַיִם, Egypt), son of [[Ham, son of Noah|Ham]]. The Philistines settled "''Pelesheth''" ('''פְּלֶשֶׁת''', [[Standard Hebrew]] /pəléšet/ or /pəlášet/, [[Tiberian Hebrew]] /pəléšeṯ/ or /Pəlāšeṯ/) along the eastern [[Mediterranean]] coast at about the time when the [[Israelites]] settled in the [[Judea|Judean highlands]]. Biblical references to Philistines living in the area before this, at the time of [[Abraham]] or [[Isaac]] (e.g. Gen. 21:32-34), are generally regarded by modern scholars to be anachronisms. |
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| The Philistines are spoken of in the ''[[Book of Amos]]'' as originating in [[Caphtor]]: "saith the LORD: Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and Aram from Kir?" (''Amos'' 9:7). Later, in the [[7th century BC]], ''[[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]]'' makes the same association with Caphtor. "For the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor, (Jeremiah 47:4). Scholars variously identify the land of Caphtor with [[Cyprus]] and [[Crete]] and other locations in the eastern Mediterranean. | | The Philistines are spoken of in the ''[[Book of Amos]]'' as originating in [[Caphtor]]: "saith the LORD: Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and Aram from Kir?" (''Amos'' 9:7). Later, in the [[7th century BC]], ''[[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]]'' makes the same association with Caphtor. "For the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor, (Jeremiah 47:4). Scholars variously identify the land of Caphtor with [[Cyprus]] and [[Crete]] and other locations in the eastern Mediterranean. |
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| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
− | * [http://www.dabar.org/Dyke/PHILISTINES/250PhilistineTexts.html List of biblical references to Philistines or Philistia] | + | * [https://www.dabar.org/Dyke/PHILISTINES/250PhilistineTexts.html List of biblical references to Philistines or Philistia] |
− | * [http://www.dig-gath.org Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project website] | + | * [https://www.dig-gath.org Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project website] |
− | * [http://gath.wordpress.com Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project blog] | + | * [https://gath.wordpress.com Tell es-Safi/Gath Archaeological Project blog] |
− | *[http://www.courses.psu.edu/cams/cams400w_aek11/www/index.htm the Sea Peoples and the Philistines. A course at Penn State University] | + | *[https://www.courses.psu.edu/cams/cams400w_aek11/www/index.htm the Sea Peoples and the Philistines. A course at Penn State University] |
− | *[http://www.phoenixdatasystems.com/goliath/contents.htm Neal Bierling, ''Giving Goliath his due:new archaeological light on the Philistines'' 1992] | + | *[https://www.phoenixdatasystems.com/goliath/contents.htm Neal Bierling, ''Giving Goliath his due:new archaeological light on the Philistines'' 1992] |
− | * [http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=164 The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran] (Chronology for Israel's Period of the Judges 1412 BC to 1039 BC) | + | * [https://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=164 The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran] (Chronology for Israel's Period of the Judges 1412 BC to 1039 BC) |
− | *[http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/bel9/index.html The Philistines: Raiders of the Ark or Cultural Goliaths?] | + | *[https://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/bel9/index.html The Philistines: Raiders of the Ark or Cultural Goliaths?] |
− | * {{CathEncy|wstitle=Philistines}}
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| [[Category: General Reference]] | | [[Category: General Reference]] |
| [[Category: History]] | | [[Category: History]] |