Philistines

Overview

The Philistines occupied the coastal regions of Canaan and were frequent adversaries of Israel throughout the Old Testament. They are mentioned prominently during the period of the judges and the early monarchy, particularly in conflicts with Samson and King Saul. Though eventually diminished as a threat, they represent the ongoing spiritual struggles God's people faced in claiming and maintaining their promised inheritance.

Key Scriptures

"Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle... and the Philistines stood on the mountain on one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them" (1 Samuel 13:5, ESV).

"Then Samson went down to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her" (Judges 16:1, NASB). Through his conflicts with the Philistines, Samson demonstrated both God's power and the dangers of compromise.

Application

Recognize that spiritual opposition and worldly resistance to faith are normal Christian experiences, calling us to trust in God's strength rather than our own abilities.

✦ Scripture References 40 references

Psalms 83:7 Isaiah 9:11 Isaiah 9:12 1 Samuel 13:5 Zechariah 9:6 1 Kings 15:27 Judges 16:21 Judges 15:3 Judges 15:4 Judges 15:5 Psalms 87:4 Psalms 108:9 Deuteronomy 2:23 1 Samuel 27:1 1 Samuel 27:2 1 Samuel 27:3 1 Samuel 27:4 1 Samuel 27:5 1 Samuel 27:6 1 Samuel 27:7 1 Samuel 27:8 1 Samuel 27:9 1 Samuel 27:10 1 Samuel 27:11 1 Samuel 27:12 1 Samuel 18:22 1 Samuel 18:23 1 Samuel 18:24 1 Samuel 18:25 1 Samuel 18:26 1 Samuel 18:27 1 Samuel 18:28 1 Samuel 18:29 1 Samuel 18:30 1 Samuel 31:1 1 Samuel 31:2 1 Samuel 31:3 1 Samuel 31:4 1 Samuel 31:5 1 Samuel 31:6

✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 379 verses

Always confederated with the enemies of Israel

Isaiah 9:11 Isaiah 9:12 Psalms 83:7

Army of

1 Samuel 13:5

Base men to be their rulers

Zechariah 9:6

Besieged in Gibbethon by Nadab

1 Kings 15:27

Blinded and imprisoned by

Judges 16:21

Burned vineyards &c of

Judges 15:3 Judges 15:4 Judges 15:5

Called Philistia

Psalms 87:4 Psalms 108:9

Conquered the Avims and took from them the west coast of Canaan

Deuteronomy 2:23

David finds refuge among

1 Samuel 27:1 1 Samuel 27:2 1 Samuel 27:3 1 Samuel 27:4 1 Samuel 27:5 1 Samuel 27:6 1 Samuel 27:7 1 Samuel 27:8 1 Samuel 27:9 1 Samuel 27:10 1 Samuel 27:11 1 Samuel 27:12

David slays two hundred

1 Samuel 18:22 1 Samuel 18:23 1 Samuel 18:24 1 Samuel 18:25 1 Samuel 18:26 1 Samuel 18:27 1 Samuel 18:28 1 Samuel 18:29 1 Samuel 18:30

Defeat the Israelites and slay Saul and his sons

1 Chronicles 10:1 1 Samuel 31:1 1 Samuel 31:2 1 Samuel 31:3 1 Samuel 31:4 1 Samuel 31:5 1 Samuel 31:6 1 Samuel 31:7 1 Samuel 31:8 1 Samuel 31:9 1 Samuel 31:10 1 Samuel 31:11 1 Samuel 31:12 1 Samuel 31:13

Defeated by David

1 Chronicles 14:8 1 Chronicles 14:9 1 Chronicles 14:10 1 Chronicles 14:11 1 Chronicles 14:12 1 Chronicles 14:13 1 Chronicles 14:14 1 Chronicles 14:15 1 Chronicles 14:16 2 Samuel 5:17 2 Samuel 5:18 2 Samuel 5:19 2 Samuel 5:20 2 Samuel 5:21 2 Samuel 5:22 2 Samuel 5:23 2 Samuel 5:24 2 Samuel 5:25 2 Samuel 23:9 2 Samuel 23:10 2 Samuel 23:11 2 Samuel 23:12 2 Samuel 23:13 2 Samuel 23:14 2 Samuel 23:15 2 Samuel 23:16

Defeated by Hezekiah

2 Kings 18:8

Defeated by Saul and Jonathan

1 Samuel 9:16

Defeated by Uzziah

2 Chronicles 26:6 2 Chronicles 26:7

Defeated Israel and took the ark

1 Samuel 4:3 1 Samuel 4:4 1 Samuel 4:5 1 Samuel 4:6 1 Samuel 4:7 1 Samuel 4:8 1 Samuel 4:9 1 Samuel 4:10 1 Samuel 4:11

Defeated Israel at Ebenezer

1 Samuel 4:1 1 Samuel 4:2

Defeated Israel at Ephesdammim and pursued to Ekron

1 Samuel 17:1 1 Samuel 17:52

Defied Israel by their champion

1 Samuel 17:4 1 Samuel 17:5 1 Samuel 17:6 1 Samuel 17:7 1 Samuel 17:8 1 Samuel 17:9 1 Samuel 17:10

Descendants of Mizraim

1 Chronicles 1:12 Amos 9:7 Genesis 10:14 Jeremiah 47:4

Descended from Casluhim

Genesis 10:13 Genesis 10:14

Destruction and desolation of their cities

Jeremiah 47:5 Zephaniah 2:4

Dismay at ruin of Tyre

Zechariah 9:3 Zechariah 9:5

Distressed Judah under Ahaz

2 Chronicles 28:18 2 Chronicles 28:19

Distrusted by

1 Samuel 29:2 1 Samuel 29:3 1 Samuel 29:4 1 Samuel 29:5 1 Samuel 29:6 1 Samuel 29:7

Divided into five sates of lordships

1 Samuel 6:16 Joshua 13:3 Judges 3:3

Fled to, for safety

1 Samuel 27:1 1 Samuel 27:2 1 Samuel 27:3 1 Samuel 27:4 1 Samuel 27:5 1 Samuel 27:6 1 Samuel 27:7

Gained the confidence of Achish king of

1 Samuel 28:2 1 Samuel 29:9

Gathered all their armies to Aphek against Israel

1 Samuel 28:1 1 Samuel 29:1

Given by God to the Israelites

Joshua 13:2 Joshua 13:3 Joshua 15:45 Joshua 15:47

Had a guard composed of

2 Samuel 8:18 Ezekiel 25:16 Zephaniah 2:5

Had many flourishing cities

1 Samuel 6:17

Hatred and revenge against Israel to be fully recompensed

Amos 1:6 Amos 1:7 Amos 1:8 Ezekiel 25:15 Ezekiel 25:16 Ezekiel 25:17

History during the leadership of Samson

Jude 1:13 Jude 1:14 Jude 1:15 Jude 1:16

Idolatrous

1 Samuel 5:2 Judges 16:23

Intermarried with

Judges 14:1 Judges 14:10

Invaded the land of Israel with a great army

1 Samuel 13:5 1 Samuel 13:17 1 Samuel 13:18 1 Samuel 13:19 1 Samuel 13:20 1 Samuel 13:21 1 Samuel 13:22 1 Samuel 13:23

Israel condemned for imitating

Amos 6:2 Amos 9:7 Judges 10:6

Israel defeated by, and Saul slain

1 Samuel 31:1 1 Samuel 31:2 1 Samuel 31:3 1 Samuel 31:4 1 Samuel 31:5 1 Samuel 31:6 1 Samuel 31:7 1 Samuel 31:8 1 Samuel 31:9 1 Samuel 31:10

Jonathan and his armour-bearer smote a garrison of, at the passages

1 Samuel 14:1 1 Samuel 14:2 1 Samuel 14:3 1 Samuel 14:4 1 Samuel 14:5 1 Samuel 14:6 1 Samuel 14:7 1 Samuel 14:8 1 Samuel 14:9 1 Samuel 14:10 1 Samuel 14:11 1 Samuel 14:12 1 Samuel 14:13 1 Samuel 14:14

Jonathan smote a garrison of, at Geba and provoked them

1 Samuel 13:3 1 Samuel 13:4

Lords of

1 Samuel 5:8 1 Samuel 5:11 1 Samuel 6:4 1 Samuel 6:12 1 Samuel 7:7 1 Samuel 29:2 1 Samuel 29:6 1 Samuel 29:7 Joshua 13:3 Judges 3:3 Judges 16:5 Judges 16:30

Men of great strength and stature amongst

1 Samuel 17:4 1 Samuel 17:5 1 Samuel 17:6 1 Samuel 17:7 2 Samuel 21:16 2 Samuel 21:18 2 Samuel 21:19 2 Samuel 21:20

Miraculously discomfited

1 Samuel 14:15 1 Samuel 14:16 1 Samuel 14:17 1 Samuel 14:18 1 Samuel 14:19 1 Samuel 14:20 1 Samuel 14:21 1 Samuel 14:22 1 Samuel 14:23

Miraculously routed at Mizpeh

1 Samuel 7:7 1 Samuel 7:8 1 Samuel 7:9 1 Samuel 7:10 1 Samuel 7:11 1 Samuel 7:12 1 Samuel 7:13 1 Samuel 7:14

Often defeated during Saul's reign

1 Samuel 19:8 1 Samuel 23:1 1 Samuel 23:2 1 Samuel 23:3 1 Samuel 23:4 1 Samuel 23:5

Often defeated in the course of his reign

Oppressed Israel after the death of Abdon forty years

Judges 13:1

Oppressed Israel after the death of Jair for eighteen years

Judges 10:7 Judges 10:8

Originally dwelt in the land of Caphtor

Amos 9:7 Jeremiah 47:4

Pay tribute to Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 17:11

Plagued for retaining the ark

1 Samuel 5:6 1 Samuel 5:7 1 Samuel 5:8 1 Samuel 5:9 1 Samuel 5:10 1 Samuel 5:11 1 Samuel 5:12

Procured Saul's daughter for and hundred foreskins of

1 Samuel 18:25 1 Samuel 18:26 1 Samuel 18:27

Promised as a deliverer from

Judges 13:5

Prophecies against

Amos 1:6 Amos 1:7 Amos 1:8 Ezekiel 25:15 Ezekiel 25:16 Ezekiel 25:17 Isaiah 9:11 Isaiah 9:12 Isaiah 14:29 Isaiah 14:30 Isaiah 14:31 Jeremiah 25:17 Jeremiah 25:18 Jeremiah 25:19 Jeremiah 25:20 Jeremiah 47:1 Jeremiah 47:2 Jeremiah 47:3 Jeremiah 47:4 Jeremiah 47:5 Jeremiah 47:6 Jeremiah 47:7 Zechariah 9:5 Zechariah 9:6 Zechariah 9:7 Zephaniah 2:4 Zephaniah 2:5 Zephaniah 2:6 Zephaniah 2:7

Proud

Zechariah 9:6

Pulled down the house of Dagon and destroyed immense numbers of

Judges 16:29 Judges 16:30

Punishment with other nations

Jeremiah 25:20

Put the ark into Dagon's house

1 Samuel 5:1 1 Samuel 5:2 1 Samuel 5:3 1 Samuel 5:4

Saul constantly at war with

1 Samuel 14:52

Sent back the ark and were healed

1 Samuel 6:1 1 Samuel 6:2 1 Samuel 6:3 1 Samuel 6:4 1 Samuel 6:5 1 Samuel 6:6 1 Samuel 6:7 1 Samuel 6:8 1 Samuel 6:9 1 Samuel 6:10 1 Samuel 6:11 1 Samuel 6:12 1 Samuel 6:13 1 Samuel 6:14 1 Samuel 6:15 1 Samuel 6:16 1 Samuel 6:17 1 Samuel 6:18

Sent by God against Jehoram

2 Chronicles 21:16 2 Chronicles 21:17

Shamgar slays six hundred with an ox goad

Judges 3:31

Shamgar slew six hundred of, and delivered Israel

Judges 3:31

Slew a thousand with the jawbone of an ass

Judges 15:15 Judges 15:16

Slew Goliath the champion of

1 Samuel 17:40 1 Samuel 17:41 1 Samuel 17:42 1 Samuel 17:43 1 Samuel 17:44 1 Samuel 17:45 1 Samuel 17:46 1 Samuel 17:47 1 Samuel 17:48 1 Samuel 17:49 1 Samuel 17:50

Slew many for burning his wife

Judges 15:7 Judges 15:8

Slew thirty, near Askelon

Judges 14:19

Some of, left to prove Israel

Judges 3:1 Judges 3:2 Judges 3:3

Suffered to remain in Canaan

Judges 3:3 Judges 3:4

Superstitious

Isaiah 2:6

Territory of

Deuteronomy 2:23 Exodus 13:17 Exodus 23:31 Joshua 13:3 Joshua 15:47

The Caphtorims

Deuteronomy 2:23

The Cherethites

1 Samuel 30:14 Zephaniah 2:5

Their country to be a future possession to Israel

Obadiah 1:19 Zephaniah 2:7

To help in Israel's restoration

Isaiah 11:14

Union with Syria against Israel

Isaiah 9:11 Isaiah 9:12

Utter destruction by Pharaoh king of Egypt

Jeremiah 47:1 Jeremiah 47:2 Jeremiah 47:3 Jeremiah 47:4 Zephaniah 2:5 Zephaniah 2:6

Warlike

1 Samuel 17:1 1 Samuel 28:1

Were a great people and governed by kings in the patriarchal age

Genesis 21:22 Genesis 21:34 Genesis 26:8

Ziklag a town of, taken and plundered by the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30:1 1 Samuel 30:2 1 Samuel 30:16

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