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Philistia

/fih-LIS-tee-uh/

Summary

Philistia was the coastal territory of the Philistines along the Mediterranean Sea, from which the name Palestine derives.

☩Geography

Philistia was a fertile strip of land along the Mediterranean coast, stretching from the river of Egypt to Ekron. It was about 25 to 30 miles long and up to 16 miles wide, an undulating plain rising gradually to low hills in the east. The territory was allotted to the tribes of Dan and Judah but was never fully conquered by Israel.

Key verses:Psalm 60:8Psalm 87:4Psalm 108:9

☩Five Cities

The region was organized as a confederacy of five major cities: Gaza (the leading city), Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. Each city had its own lord or ruler, and they worked together against Israel.

Key verses:Joshua 13:3

☩Commercial Importance

Philistia occupied the great commercial thoroughfare between Phoenicia and Syria in the north and Egypt and Arabia in the south. The name 'Canaan' meaning 'merchant' was applied to the region, indicating its commercial character.

Key verses:Zephaniah 2:5

Related Verses3 mentions

Psalms· 3 verses

60:887:4108:9

References

  1. 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Philistia," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  2. 2.James Orr (ed.), "Philistia," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  3. 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Philistia," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
  4. 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Philistia," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).