Why The Study Of The Gentiles In Scripture?
Read more: Gentileology: What Does The Bible Say About The Nations Part 1
Many years ago I read the book by Arnold Fructenbaum called Israelology, which talks about Israel in the many end time scenarios, from Amillenialism all the way to Post Tribulation End Time Theology, well how about we do the same with the Gentiles in scripture, starting off with how God Addresses the Nations not only in the Old Testament/Tanakh, but also the New Testament/Brit Chadashah.
So the first question is, where do I start on this topic, in the New Testament or the Old Testament, which nation to start of with first?
In this we are mainly looking at Nations outside of Israel, how they are addressed in prophecy, to even accounts to where you see them in scripture be centered to attack Israel.
We Start Off With Gods Word & Prophesies Over Palestine/Philistine! Philistineology/Palestineology!
So the scriptures to start this off in relation to the Palestinianology/Philistineology, I would also like to try to cover any leaders, rulers of the Philistines as well which will give us an insight into their Fruits by the scripture.
We will move into the origin for the Philistines/Palestine to where we first hear of them in the Tanakh/Old Testament.
Gen 10:6-14 KJV
(6) And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
(7) And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
(8) And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
(9) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
(10) And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
(11) Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
(12) And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.
(13) And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
(14) And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
As we look upon the early Gentileology of Philistine, we see he is a direct descendant of Ham, via his son Mizraim, the next Philistine encounter in scripture is found in Genesis chapter 21.
Gen 21:32-34 KJV
(32) Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
(33) And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
(34) And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
In this encounter we see Abraham having an encounter with the Ancient Philistines, after God confirmed his promise with Abraham through the Line of Isaac, Hagar along with Ishmael being sent out of the camp, with God still confirming he still has a place for Ishmael in this time period.
This would not be the Philistines first encounter with Abraham, as we see it again in Genesis chapter 26, around 5 more times.
(Gen 26:1 KJV) And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
(Gen 26:8 KJV) And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
(Gen 26:14 KJV) For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
(Gen 26:15 KJV) For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
(Gen 26:18 KJV) And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
As we move into chapter 26 we already get the ancient king being Abimilech who was a King over the ancient Philistines, but we also see some instant character traits being shown, 1st is the destruction of Wells, that Abraham & Isaac had digged for water, the big one that stands out is the Philistines Envy of Abraham.
The Philistines Appearance In Exodus
As we continue following these ancient Philistines, the next time they show up is in the book of Exodus, to which they are spoken about 3 times.
(Exo 13:17 KJV) And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
(Exo 15:14 KJV) The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
(Exo 23:31 KJV) And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
As we see the mentions here of the Philistines, let us go into more depth with each mention, starting with its first mention found in Exodus 13 in more context, we will go as far back to verse 3 going into verse 22.
Exo 13:3-22 KJV
(3) And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
(4) This day came ye out in the month Abib.
(5) And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
(6) Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
(7) Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
(8) And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
(9) And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
(10) Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
(11) And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
(12) That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.
(13) And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.
(14) And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
(15) And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
(16) And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
(17) And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
(18) But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
(19) And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
(20) And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
(21) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
(22) He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
As we look upon the Philistines in context here, we see that the God Of Israel, has freed Israel from the bondage of Egypt, moving Israel into the consecration of their firstborn, we see God chooses to not let them presently go into the Land of the Philistines, should War arise, cause them to flee back to Bondage into Egypt once again, so God showing his assurance with Israel using a Cloud by Day & Pillar Of Fire by Night to give Israel Comfort outside of the Land Of Philistine.
We will now move into chapter 15 of its next mention verse 14, to see the full context around this we will go from verse 1 to 21.
Exo 15:1-21 KJV
(1) Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
(2) The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
(3) The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
(4) Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
(5) The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
(6) Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
(7) And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
(8) And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
(9) The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
(10) Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
(11) Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
(12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
(13) Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
(14) The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
(15) Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
(16) Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
(17) Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
(18) The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
(19) For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
(20) And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
(21) And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
As we move into the next verse in its full context, we learn that this comes from Song connected to Moses & the Children of Israel, within the song it also sets up prophesy in relation for sorrow to take hold the inhabitants of Palestina/Philistine, whilst Israel is delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians once again.
Now it is time to move into Exodus last mention of Philistine found in Exodus 23:31 as we look to it in full context from verses 20 to 33.
Exo 23:20-33 KJV
(20) Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
(21) Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
(22) But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
(23) For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
(24) Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
(25) And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
(26) There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
(27) I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
(28) And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
(29) I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
(30) By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
(31) And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.
(32) Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
(33) They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
As we look to this scripture in context, we see God Of Israel addressing the Children of Israel, saying he will defend them, reminding them to abide in his word, then we see a connection to the Boundaries of Israel which God has set in place for Israel, to even including the very sea to which the Philistines had dominion over in the middle east, not just their land, but also their sea routes which connect through to the seedline of Ham.
Let us move into the next mentions of the Philistines as we move into the book of Joshua.
The Philistines Appearance In Joshua
In Joshua we only have 2 mentions of the Philistines, and they are quite close together as to where they are, so let us look at the verses which mention the Philistines.
(Jos 13:2 KJV) This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
(Jos 13:3 KJV) From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
As we look to these verses, this takes place after a course of events, so to these verses in context we will go from verses 1 to 7.
Jos 13:1-7 KJV
(1) Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
(2) This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
(3) From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
(4) From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
(5) And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
(6) All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
(7) Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
The scripture pointing out in its full context, that Israel still had land it had yet to claim, which in turn, would fall into an area of the claim of unfulfilled Land Promised to all of Israel, but what we learn as well from the scripture is the Borders of the Philistines, also had the help of the lords of the Philistines, we get the mention of them being the Gazathites, Ashdodthites, Eshkalonites, Gittites & the Ekronites.
This now concludes, covering the book of Joshua, we will finish up with covering the Book Of Judges in relation to the Philistines.
The Philistines Appearance In Judges
So in the book of Judges, the first time we see the appearance of the Philistines in in chapter 3, where it appears twice, let us look at those appearances, then move into the context afterwards.
(Jdg 3:3 KJV) Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.
(Jdg 3:31 KJV) And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
As we look at both scripture quotes, found in chapter 3, we are given a minimal amount of information, one addressing some lords of the region, the other in relation to the death of Philistines.
With a total of 31 verses, we will break this chapter down, linking to areas it addresses people mentioned as Judges during this time, the first 6 verses giving us an introduction into what was happening at the time of the Judges, 3 Judges mentioned overall in the chapter.
Jdg 3:1-6 KJV
(1) Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
(2) Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
(3) Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.
(4) And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
(5) And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
(6) And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
As we look to the beginning context to which the Philistines are bought up in this verse, we learn God left these nations so Israel could prove to him, that they would hearken unto his word, because they are also connected to the Canaanites, that these nations also play apart in seducing Israel to serving their pagan dumb idols.
Othniel
Jdg 3:7-11 KJV
(7) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
(8) Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
(9) And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
(10) And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
(11) And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
So we see even in the time of the Judges, that Israel gets seduced by the nations around them, causing them to turn away from the God Of Israel, that he then raises up Othniel, let us move to the next Judge during this time, until we reach the next mention of Philistine.
Ehud
Jdg 3:12-30 KJV
(12) And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
(13) And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
(14) So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
(15) But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
(16) But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
(17) And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
(18) And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
(19) But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
(20) And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
(21) And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
(22) And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
(23) Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
(24) When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
(25) And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
(26) And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
(27) And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
(28) And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
(29) And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
(30) So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
So in this next section we see Ehud the next Judge to be raised up in the time where a King of Moab who is later subdued by a member of the nation of Israel.
Moving into the last verse we see the last Judge the God of Israel raises up in this time.
Shamgar
(Jdg 3:31 KJV) And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
So as this chapter finishes, we see that a number of Philistines were killed off by Shamgar the next Judge God Of Israel raised up in this chapter.
Our next Philistine mentions in the book of Judges, is found in chapter 10 to which it shows in 3 verses, which are quite close together, so let us see them in the pretext before we move into the context.
(Jdg 10:6 KJV) And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
(Jdg 10:7 KJV) And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
(Jdg 10:11 KJV) And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
So as we look into the pretext of the the Philistines in these verses, in the pretext we see a reminder given to Israel by the God Of Israel, so we will now move this into context, this chapter has 18 verses in full, so let us look to the beginning verses.
Tola and Jair
Jdg 10:1-5 KJV
(1) And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.
(2) And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
(3) And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
(4) And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
(5) And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
So as we move into the first 5 verses, this takes us to the next Judges God rose up in Israel, the next verses are dealing with what happened with Israel after Tola & Jair died.
Further Disobedience and Oppression
Jdg 10:6-18 KJV
(6) And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
(7) And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
(8) And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
(9) Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
(10) And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
(11) And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
(12) The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
(13) Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
(14) Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
(15) And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
(16) And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
(17) Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
(18) And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
So as we see in this as the Philistines make there appearance in these verses, it shows up in relation to Israel falling in disobedience to God once again, we even have the God of Israel, reminding them of his exploits he did for them.
Chapter 13 of Judges is where we see the next mentions of the Philistines to which it only appears twice, but also centers around a certain figure in this time period, so let us see the verses in pretext, before we move into its context.
(Jdg 13:1 KJV) And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
(Jdg 13:5 KJV) For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
So with the verses present to us, we learn because of Evil done in Gods sight once again, he handed them over to the Philistines, but also in the next verse, we see the beginning & rising up of a Judge of Israel once again who will be a Nazarite to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
So let us start to move to these verses in deep context, with a total of 25 verses.
The Birth of Samson
Jdg 13:1-12 KJV
(1) And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
(2) And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
(3) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
(4) Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
(5) For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
(6) Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
(7) But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
(8) Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
(9) And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
(10) And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
(11) And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
(12) And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
So as we look to these verses in context, things are being set up for Samson to be born, and he will be used to go against Israel’s oppressor the Philistine, whom God had handed them over too because of their sin.
Jdg 13:13-25 KJV
(13) And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
(14) She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
(15) And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
(16) And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
(17) And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
(18) And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
(19) So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
(20) For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
(21) But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
(22) And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
(23) But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
(24) And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
(25) And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
As Manoah & his wife eventually have a son, with his name being called Samson, we also learn something about which Region he was born in, being Dan’s tribal region, making Samson of the Tribe Of Dan, God will be using him to counter the Philistines.
The tribe of Dan was not permanently cut off, nor did it completely disappear. Though omitted from the sealed list of 144,000 in Revelation 7 due to a historical legacy of idolatry, biblical prophecy in Ezekiel 48 explicitly includes a gate for the tribe of Dan in the restored New Jerusalem. [1, 2, 3]
Tribal Status and Prophecy
- Omission in Revelation 7: The tribe of Dan is left out of the 144,000 sealed servants, a detail many scholars link to their early embrace of idolatry—such as setting up golden calves in the city of Dan under King Jeroboam and migrations in the Book of Judges. [1, 2, 3]
- Inclusion in the Future Kingdom: Ezekiel 48 lists a specific territorial portion and gate for Dan during the millennial kingdom, and Revelation 21 includes the gates of the twelve tribes, showing the tribe retains a place in God’s future plan. [1, 2]
- Migration and Assimilation: After the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom, the Danites were scattered into exile, leading to traditional descriptions of them as “lost” to history rather than completely annihilated. [1]
Our next mentions are found in chapter 14 found within the first four verses of the very chapter.
(Jdg 14:1 KJV) And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
(Jdg 14:2 KJV) And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
(Jdg 14:3 KJV) Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
(Jdg 14:4 KJV) But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
So let us look at these verses in their complete context, as Samson encounters the Philistines.
Samson’s Marriage
Jdg 14:1-20 KJV
(1) And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
(2) And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
(3) Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
(4) But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
(5) Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
(6) And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
(7) And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
(8) And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
(9) And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
(10) So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
(11) And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
(12) And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:
(13) But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
(14) And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
(15) And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?
(16) And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
(17) And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
(18) And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
(19) And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
(20) But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
So as we see here in its complete Context, Samson’s Parents desired for Samson to marry someone within their own tribes, but Samson was seduced by the beauty of the Philistine women, especially one who caught his eye.
The next chapter we see the Philistines mention in Judges is in chapter 15, to which it has 9 appearances, so let us see them in its pretext, then move into its context next.
(Jdg 15:3 KJV) And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
(Jdg 15:5 KJV) And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.
(Jdg 15:6 KJV) Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
(Jdg 15:9 KJV) Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.
(Jdg 15:11 KJV) Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
(Jdg 15:12 KJV) And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
(Jdg 15:14 KJV) And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
(Jdg 15:20 KJV) And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
So to see these mentions of Philistines in Context, It will be divided into first 10 verses & the last 10 verses, as there are 20 verses overall in this chapter.
Samson Defeats the Philistines
Jdg 15:1-10 KJV
(1) But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.
(2) And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.
(3) And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
(4) And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
(5) And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.
(6) Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
(7) And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
(8) And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
(9) Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.
(10) And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.
So as we move into the 1st 10 verses of this chapter, we see how Samson was used against the Philistines, to which their harvest was destroyed, as God willed it for these Philistines to be defeated, during this time, we also see the Philistines moving from the location they were at, heading south towards Judah, to where the Philistines stirred up the men in Judah to bind Samson.
Moving into the last 10 verses in this chapter.
Jdg 15:11-20 KJV
(11) Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
(12) And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
(13) And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.
(14) And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
(15) And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
(16) And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
(17) And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.
(18) And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
(19) But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
(20) And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
So as things continue in this chapter, we have the men of Judah, finally bind Samson, because of the Philistines rule over them, almost as if not knowing that God had raised up Samson to go up against the Philistines, of course God Of Israel intervenes via Samson to break his Cords binding him, and Philistines encounter Gods Judgement by Samson, we see this also happens around a period of 20 years, also at the earlier verses, we also see Samson also had a family too.
The next place we see the Philistines mention in Judges is in chapter 16 which it is mentioned in 12 verses of the 31 verses in the chapter, so let us look at the 1st 6 in there pretext.
(Jdg 16:5 KJV) And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
(Jdg 16:8 KJV) Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
(Jdg 16:9 KJV) Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
(Jdg 16:12 KJV) Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
(Jdg 16:14 KJV) And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
(Jdg 16:18 KJV) And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
So as we look to these verses in there pretext, we see the Philistine lords seeking out Delilah to try to overcome Samson by any means possible in their day, so to see these verses in context, we will go as far as verse 19, before moving into the last verses are shown in pretext in this chapter.
Samson and Delilah
Jdg 16:1-19 KJV
(1) Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
(2) And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
(3) And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
(4) And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
(5) And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
(6) And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
(7) And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
(8) Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
(9) Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
(10) And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
(11) And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
(12) Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
(13) And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
(14) And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
(15) And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
(16) And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
(17) That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
(18) And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
(19) And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
So as we move into the context of the Philistines in these verses, we see that they had a Harlot, named Delilah, Samson entered the Harlots place, we see this take place near Hebron, with the Philistines using Delilah as well to try to overcome Samson & find out the secret to his weakness, to which after many attempts by the Philistines, they do eventually overcome Samson by shaving his head of hair, to which Delilah found out by her interactions with him.
Now moving into the last 6 verses in there pretext in chapter 16, then finish up with it in context.
(Jdg 16:20 KJV) And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
(Jdg 16:21 KJV) But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
(Jdg 16:23 KJV) Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
(Jdg 16:27 KJV) Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
(Jdg 16:28 KJV) And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
(Jdg 16:30 KJV) And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
So as we look to the pretext of these verses, we do get some locations that directly connect to the Philistines, also including the pagan god they worshipped called Dagon, and in this particular event, they intend to sacrifice Samson to their pagan god Dagon, something which a lot of modern day people who call themselves Palestinians today, seek to Sacrifice Israel on their alter of Dagon, to see this in full context we will now conclude by showing verses 20-31.
Jdg 16:20-22 KJV
(20) And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
(21) But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
(22) Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
The Death of Samson
Jdg 16:23-31 KJV
(23) Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
(24) And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
(25) And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
(26) And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
(27) Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
(28) And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
(29) And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
(30) And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
(31) Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
As we look into the last day of Samson in Gaza with the Philistine lords, making him a sacrifice unto Dagon, we see that God Of Israel grants Samson the Strength to overcome his enemies the Philistines, we see their treatment of Samson by the Philistines was to make a Mockery of him, we see not long after Samsons Death, Israel was Judged for another 20 years.
So this ends things for Part 1 covering the Philistines, we will continue next mentions found in 1st & 2nd Samuel, along with 1st & 2nd Kings mentions of the Philistines.
To Be Continued In Part 2
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