The Philistines in the Bible: A Late-Monarchic Perspective

Abstract

The biblical references to the Philistines do not contain any memory of early Iron I events or cultural behaviour. A few texts, such as the Ark Narrative and stories reflecting the importance of Gath, seem to portray late Iron I and early Iron II memories. Most of the Philistine material, even if historically stratified and containing seeds of early tales as well as evidence for more than one redaction, is based on the geographical, historical and ideological background of late-monarchic times. Especially important are the allusions to Greek and west Anatolian mercenaries who served in the Saite army and were probably stationed, among other places, in Philistia. Chief among them were Carian, Ionian, Lydian and apparently also Cretan hoplites. This article highlights the following issues: the Philistine seranim, the pentapolis, Goliath’s armour, the Cherethites and the Pelethites and the origin of the Philistines.

A Great United Monarchy? Archaeological and Historical Perspectives

“…30 Brandl in a lecture at an Oxford 2004 conference. 31 Mazar/Carmi (2001); Sharon (2001); this is in line with the initial, pre-radiocarbon low chronology proposal, which was based on archaeological and historical considerations - Finkelstein (1996). 32 Na'aman (1997b); Finkelstein/Piasetzky (2007a).…”

“…22 Finkelstein et al (2007); the building identified by Eilat Mazar as the palace of King David will be dealt with below. 23 Finkelstein (2001); Ussishkin (2003). 24 Faust (2004).…”

“…56 Levy et al (2004;; Finkelstein/Piasetzky (2008). 57 Bienkowski (1992 Finkelstein (2005). 59 Levy et al (2005), 158-159.…”

“…Regarding dating, the biblical figure of 40 years for David's reign and 40 years for Solomon are typological and mean no more than 'many years' -the author did not know exactly how many -and the 73 Goliath is even dressed in the armor of a 7th century BCE or later Greek mercenary - Finkelstein (2002). 74 E.g., Cahill (1998); E. Mazar (2007b, Fig.…”

“…This account fits the reality of 75 E.g., Handy (1997), 101-102;Ash (1999), 24-25. 76 I believe that there is enough evidence -archaeological, extra-biblical and biblical to argue for the existence of such polity - Finkelstein (2006). 77 Finkelstein (2003).…”