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Philistines

Hebrew פְּלִשְׁתִּים. Also called Pelishtim, Sea Peoples.

Sea people settled on the coast in five cities, and Israel's defining enemy for two centuries — with better metal.

The Philistines arrive on the southern coast around the twelfth century BC and organise into five cities — Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath — each under its own lord. Their advantage was technological: 1 Samuel records that there was no smith in Israel, because the Philistines kept the trade to themselves, so an Israelite had to go down to them to have a plough or an axe sharpened, and pay a pim for it. That is the world Goliath of Gath walks out of. Their name is the root of the word Palestine.

Where it appears

• 1 Samuel 13:19-22 No smith found throughout all the land of Israel
• Judges 3:3 The five lords of the Philistines
• 1 Samuel 17:4-7 A champion out of the camp of the Philistines

See also

• Pim — The price they charged for sharpening

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