Heads of Philistine Prisoners. (From the Egyptian Mouumeuts.)
represents the Philistines as making a charge of three shekels a tool for sharpening them ; and again the ex- pression "Metheg-ammah" in 2 Sam. viii, 1, which is rendered in the Vulg.frenum tributi, and by Symma- chus Tt)v i^ovaiav roii tj>6pov (the true text may have been iTTSrt, instead of ilEXfi). In each of the pas- sages quoted the versions presuppose a text which yields a better sense than the existing one.
II. Connection of the Philistines with Israelitish His- tory.— Here we recur to the Biblical narrative.
1. Under Joshua and the Judges. — The territory of the Philistines, having been once occupied by the Ca- naanites, formed a portion of the Promised Land, and was assigned to the tribe of Judah ( Josh, xv, 2, 12, 45- 47). No part, however, of it was conquered in the lifetime of Joshua (xiii, 2), and even after his death no permanent conquest was effected (Judg. iii, 3), though, on the authority of a somewhat doubtful passage, we are informed that the three cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron were taken (Judg. i, 18). The Philistines, at all events, soon recovered these, and commenced an aggressive policy against the Israelites, by which they gained a complete ascendency over them. We are un- able to say at what intervals their incursions took place, as nothing is recorded of them in the early period of the Judges. But they must have been frequent, inas- much as the national spirit of the Israelites was so en- tirely broken that they even reprobated any attempt at deliverance (xv, 12). Individual heroes were raised up from time to time whose achievements might well kindle patriotism, such as Shamgar the son of Anath (iii, 31), and still more Samson (xiii-xvi); but neither of these men succeeded in permanently throwing off the yoke. Of the former only a single daring feat is recorded, the effect of which appears, from Judg. v, 6, 7, to have been very shortlived. The true series of de- liverances commenced with the latter, of whom it was predicted that " he shall begin to deliver" (xiii. 5), and were carried on by Samuel, Saul, and David. A brief notice occurs in Judg. x, 7 of invasions by the Philistines and Ammonites, followed by particulars which apply exclusively to the latter people. It has hence been supposed that the brief reference to the Philistines is in anticipation of Samson's history.
The history of Samson furnishes us with some idea of the relations which existed between the two nations. As a " borderer" of the tribe of Dan, he was thrown into frequent contact with the Philistines, whose supremacy was so established that no bar appears to have been placed to free intercourse with their country. His early life was spent on the verge of the Shepheiah between Zorah and Eshtaol, but when his actions had aroused the ac- tive hostility of the Philistines he withdrew into the central district, and found a secure post on the rock of Etam, to the south-west of Bethlehem. Thither the Philistines followed him without opposition from the inhabitants. His achievements belong to his personal history : it is clear that the}- were the isolated acts of an individual, and altogether unconnected with any na- tional movement ; for the revenge of the Philistines was throughout directed against Samson personally. Under Eli there was-an organized but unsuccessful resistance to the encroachments of the Philistines, who had pene- trated into the central district and were met at Aphek (1 Sam. iv, 1). The production of the ark on this occa- sion demonstrates the greatness of the emergency, and its loss marked the lowest depth of Israel's degradation.
The next action took place under Samuel's leader- ship, and the tide of success turned in Israel's favor : the Philistines had again penetrated into the mountainous country near Jerusalem ; at Mizpeh they met the cowed host of the Israelites, who, encouraged by the signs of divine favor, and availing themselves of the panic pro- duced by a thunderstorm, inflicted on them a total de- feat. For the first time the Israelites erected their pillar or stele at Ebcn-ezer as the token of victory. The re-
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suits wore the recovery of the border-towns and their territories "from Ekron even unto Gath," i. <•. in the northern district. The success of Israel may be partly ascribed to their peaceful relations al this time with the Amorites i I Sam. vii. 0-14).
2. Under the lhhr.it- Monarchy.— The Israelites now attributed tbeir past weakness to their wanl of unity, and they desired a king, with the special object of leading them against the foe (1 Sam. viii. 20). It is nil facl that Saul tirst fell inspiration in the of a pillar (A. V. "garrison") erected by the Philistines in commemoration of a victory in.-"'. 10). As soon as he was prepared to throw off the yoke pied with his army a position at Michmash, commanding the defiles leading to the Jordan valley, and his heroic general Jonathan gave the signal for a rising by overthrowing the pillar which the Philistines had placed there. The challenge was accepted; the Philistines invaded the central district with an im- mense force i a copyist's clerical exaggeration [see N'i mber]), and, having dislodged Saul from Michmash, occupied ii themselves, and sent forth predatory bands into the surrounding country. The Israelites shortly after took up a position on the other side of the ravine at Geba, and availing themselves of the confusion con- sequent upon Jonathan's daring feat, inflicted a tre- mendous slaughter upon the enemy (ch. xiii, xiv). N" am ni|. i was made by the Philistines to regain their supremacy for about twenty-five years, and the scene of the next contest shows the altered strength of the two parties: ii was no longer in the central country, but in a ravine leading down to the Philistine plain, the valley of Blah, the position of which is about four- teen miles south-west of Jerusalem; on this occasion the prowess of young David secured success to Israel, and the foe was pursued to the gates of Gath and Ekron (ch. xviii. The power of the Philistines was, how- ever, still intact "ii iheir nun territory, as is proved by the flight of David to the court of Achish (xxi, 10 15), and his subsequent abode at Ziklag (ch. xxvii), where he was secured from the attacks of Saul. The border warfare was continued; captures and reprisals, such as are described as occurring at Keilah (xxiii, 1 5), being probably frequent. The scene of the next con- flict was far to the north, in the valley of Esdraelon, whither the Philistines may have made a plundering incur ion similar to that of the Midianites in the days of Gideon. The battle on this occasion proved disas- trous i" the Israelites: Saul himself perished, and the Philistines penetrated across the Jordan, and occupied the forsaken cities I \\\i. 1 7 i. The dissensions which followed ih'' death of Saul were naturally favorable to