The Philistines Series

December 13, 2025

We know that during the time of the Judges, the Ammonites from the east (18 years) and the Philistines from the west (40 years) came against Israel at the same time and were the last nations to harass and invade Israel.

Jephthah took care of the Ammonites and lead Israel for 6 years. Samson “began to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines,” leading them for 20 years - but he did not completely subdue them.

Some Philistine Phun Phacts:

• The people known as the Philistines originated in the Aegean area of the Mediterranean Sea, known as Caphtor (see Deut. 2:23 and Jer. 47:4).

• The 1st written records regarding them were found in Egypt, where they are described as one of the “sea peoples” who invaded Egypt. After their unsuccessful venture into Egypt, they settled along the coastal plains of what became known as Philistia – “The Land of the Philistines” – later called Palestine by the Greeks.

• The 5 city-states of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza (the Philistine Confederacy) were ruled by Seranim “lords”.

• Their chief god was Dagon (part man part fish). He was worshipped as the source of all prosperity.

• As they expanded their territory, the Philistines soon came into conflict with Israel. Their military organization and use of iron weapons enabled them to occupy parts of the Judean hill country. This occupation would last until the time of Samuel. Their final defeat would not come until the reign of David.

That brings us to 1st Samuel Chapter 4

For the next 3 chapters, Samuel will be absent. Instead, the focus will be on the Ark of the Covenant and the continuing sorry state of God’s chosen people.

Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and lost - 4,000 dead.

Israel could not understand why Yahweh had allowed such a defeat, so decided that the only way to guarantee victory would be to be in possession of the Ark of the Covenant, so men were sent to Shiloh…

After acquiring their “talisman of good-luck” the men returned to camp - Hophni and Phinehas went with them.

When the soldiers saw the Ark, they let out a shout that shook the ground!

When the Philistines learned Israel had brought the Ark with them, they were afraid but quickly rallied, “Take courage and be men, you Philistines, lest you end up serving the Hebrews just like they have served you. Be men and fight!”

The Philistines went out against Israel and Israel lost.... again:

• 30,000-foot soldiers died

• Eli’s sons – Hophni and Phinehas – were killed

• The Ark was captured and taken back to Philistia

Eli - 98 years old and blind – was sitting in his chair beside the road. When he was told of the deaths of his sons and the capture of the Ark, he fell backward off his chair and broke his neck – he had judged Israel for 40 years.

When Phinehas’ wife, who was pregnant, heard the news, she went into labor. Before dying, she named the baby “Ichabod” saying, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."

Psalm 78:53-61 - He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. Thus he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken. He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. When God heard them, he was very angry; he rejected Israel completely. He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among men. He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy.

Jeremiah 7:9-15 - “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, ‘We are safe’ – safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares Yahweh. Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. While you were doing all these things, declares Yahweh, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your fathers. I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers, the people of Ephraim.”