Judges and United Monarchy

Historical Overview1446 – Exodus1406 – ConquestCa. 1400-1050 – Period of the Judges1010-970 – David reigns970-930 – Solomon reigns930 – Kingdom divides

Historical OverviewIsrael

1446 – Exodus1406 – ConquestCa. 1400-1050 – Period of the Judges1010-970 – David reigns970-930 – Solomon reigns930 – Kingdom divides

EgyptEgypt’s New Kingdom = ca. 1550 – 1100

After Ramses II (1290– 1224), slow decline

Egypt’s Intermediate Kingdom (1100—730)Kushites rule over Egypt (730—670)Assyrians rule over Egypt (670-612)

Historical OverviewIsrael

1446 – Exodus1406 – ConquestCa. 1400-1050 – Period of the Judges1010-970 – David reigns970-930 – Solomon reigns930 – Kingdom divides

Philistines (Sea Peoples)

Originally from Europe (Greece?)Invaded Cyprus, Crete, Egypt, and Palestine ca. 1200—11001175 – invasion of Egypt; defeated by the EgyptiansAfter 1175, settled in Palestine

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

PhilistinesEarly references to “Philistines”

Gen 21:32–34; 26:1, 8, 14–15; and in Exod 13:17; 15:14; 23:31

Differences between “early” and “later” Philistines?1. “Early” Philistines are friendly; later

Philistines are hostile.2. “Early” Philistines live in Gerar under a

king; later Philistines live in 5 cities, in a confederation, under “lords”

PhilistinesWhere did these “early” Philistines come from? 1. Error in the text. Author was confused2. Anachronism.

• Early people called something else; occupied same area as later Philistines

3. Early migration of “Sea People” • Pre-1200 evidence of people from Aegean area• “ample archaeological evidence of Aegean contact

with the Levant as early as the third millennium BC” (John Wenham)

• Aegean trade in 1900-1700 BC and objects of Aegean origin at Hazor and Megiddo.

Sum: Early migration of “Sea People” of similar origin.

PhilistinesVery powerful from 1150-1000

Time of Samson, Saul, DavidMatches the biblical record

Philistine “Pentapolis”Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza

Philistine Pentapolis

Philistine Pentapolis

PhilistinesPhilistine power began to wane around 1000 B.C. Pentapolis was crushed by David; semi-independent rule by Philistine citiesLater, formed an alliance with Egypt, Edom, and Arabs (cf. Amos 1:6–8; 2 Chr 21:16–17)Came under Assyrian rule (ca. 734 B.C.)

Philistine CultureVery advanced

TechnologyArtMilitary Weaponry

Loved to partyLoved beer and wineWell-managed breweries and wineriesDrank in large quantities

Religion: Similar to CanaanitesBaal, Ashtorah, Dagon and others.

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

PhilistinesMost of what we know from the Bible matches what we have found in archaeology and historyThe difficulties (“early” vs. “later” Philistines) are easily solved.