Journal: Grace Journal
Volume: GJ 08:1 (Winter 1967)
Article: The Philistines and the Early Kingdom of Israel
Author: Robert W. Benton

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GJ 8:1 (Wtr 67) p. 21

The Philistines and the Early Kingdom of Israel

Robert W. Benton

[Robert W. Benton, a graduate of Wheaton College and Dallas Theological Seminary, is presently pastor of the Tippecanoe (Ind.) Community Church and is pursuing doctoral studies at Grace Theological Seminary.]

The early history of the nation Israel contains repeated reference to the group of people known as the Philistines. As the transition is made from the period of the judges to the inauguration of the new king, Saul, and the reigns of Saul and David that follow, the Philistines occupied an important place in that segment of history. The resultant situations and frameworks that Solomon would face received definite influence from this people situated on the coastal regions of Canaan.

The common enemies of Israel such as the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites had certain relationships to the people of Israel through genetics and former encounters. As the Israelites invaded the land of Canaan, they were brought into contact with people that were alien to their culture and heritage—especially, the Philistines.

The Confrontation of Israel and the Philistines

The Testing of Israel

Early in the book of Judges indication is given why the Philistines were such formidable enemies.

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died; that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. So Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

Now these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the

GJ 8:1 (Wtr 67) p. 22

least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof: namely, the five lords of the Philistines, and all Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon… (2:20–3:3, ASV).

Thus, the priority of the Philistines is to be noticed in the effort of God to strengthen the spiritual and moral fiber of a people that had grieved the heart of God with their rebellion. They became “the hereditary enemies of Israel.”1 They were “the most powerful of the resident people…they exerted a dominant influence in all Canaanite affairs through several c...

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