III. Usages, etc. — With regard to the institutions of the Philistines our information is very scanty. Their military tactics have been noticed above. The country in which they settled is remarkably productive (2 Kings viii, 2). Thomson exclaims on entering it, "Beautiful but monotonous — wheat, wheat, a very ocean of wheat" {Land and Bool; ii, 32 sq.). The country, he adds, greatly resembles some of the prairies in Western Amer- ica. "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold" (Gen. xxvi, 12). Not only was agriculture most remunerative, but Philistia was the highway for caravans between Egypt and the north, and commerce must have added to its wealth. Harbors were attached to Gaza and Ashkelon, and a lucrative naviga- tion may have been carried on. The greatness of the cities was mainly owing to commerce, for the coast of Palestine was in the earliest ages exclusively in posses- sion of the traflie which was carried on between Europe and Asia. Besides a great transit trade, they had inter- nal sources of wealth, being given to agriculture (Judg. xv, 5). In the time of Saul they were evidently supe- rior in the arts of life to the Israelites; for we read (1 Sam. xiii, 20) that the latter were indebted to the former for the utensils of ordinary life.
The five chief cities had, as early as the days of Josh- ua, constituted themselves into a confederacy, restricted, however, in all probability, to matters of offence and de- fence. Each was under the government of a prince whose official title was seren, ","10 (Josh, xiii, 3; Judg. iii, 3, etc.), and occasionally sdr, "lb (1 Sam. xviii, 30; xxix, 6). Gaza may be regarded as having exercised a hegemony over the others, for in the list of the towns it is mentioned the first (Josh, xiii, 3 ; Amos i, 7, 8), ex- cept where there is an especial ground for giving prom- inence to another, as in the case of Ashdod (1 Sam. vi, 17). Ekron always stands last, while Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Gath interchange places. Each town possessed its own territory, as instanced in the case of Gath (1 Chron. xviii, 1), Ashdod (1 Sam. v, 6), and others, and each pos- sessed its dependent towns or "daughters" (Josh, xv, 45- 47 ; 1 Chron. xviii, 1 ; 2 Sam. i, 20 ; Ezek. xvi, 27, 57), and its villages (Josh. I. c). In later times Gaza had a senate of five hundred (Joseph. A nt. xiii, 13, 3).
The Philistines appear to have been deeply imbued with superstition : they carried their idols with them on their campaigns (2 Sam. v, 21), and proclaimed their victories in their presence (1 Sam. xxxi, 9). They also carried about their persons charms of some kind that had been presented before the idols (2 Mace, xii, 40). The gods whom they chierly worshipped were Dagon, who possessed temples both at Gaza (Judg. xvi, 23) and at Ashdod (1 Sam. v, 3-5 ; 1 Chron. x, 10 ; 1 Mace, x, 83); Ashtoreth, whose temple at Ashkelon was far-famed (1 Sam. xxxi, 10; Herod, i, 105) ; Baal-zebub, whose fane
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at Ekron was consulted by Ahaziab c2 Kings i, 2-6); and Derceto, who was honored al Ashkelon | DiodSic. Li, 4 I, though unnoticed in the Bible. Priests and diviners (1 Sam. vi. 2) were attached to the various seats of worship; and the Philistine magicians were in repute (Isa. ii. 6).
The special authorities for the history of the Philis- tines are Stark, Ga a und du phUistiiische KusU (Jena, 1852); Knobel, Volkei-tafel der Genesis (Giess. 1850); Movers, Phonizien (Bonn, 1841 I; Hitzig, Urgeseh. und Mytkologit der Pkilistder (Leips. 1845); and Kneucker, in Schenki I's BibeULex. s. v. Philistaer. See also Jour. Sac. Lit. .Inly. 1n.v_>. p. ;;•_':; sq.; .Ian. 1856, p. 299 sq.; Frisch, h, Oriffine, diis ■< terra Palatstinorum (Tubing. 1696 * : W'nll'. Apparatus Philistatorum bellicorum < \ iteb. 1711 i; Hannecker, Du Philistaer (Eichstadt, 1872).
Phillipps, George, a Congregational minister, was born at Rondham, in the county of Norfolk, England, near the opening of the 17th century. Having given early indications of a remarkably vigorous mind, a Btrong love of knowledge, ami a deep sense of religion, lie w:h sent to the University of Cambridge, where he received his education, and distinguished himself as a scholar. Theology was his favorite study: and. while yet a young man. he had made himself familiar with the mosl celebrated of the lathers of the Christian Church. Not long after his ordination he began to entertain scru- ples with regard to certain requirements of the Estab- lished Church. This dissatisfaction became so strong that at last he determined to emigrate to this country wiih a company of Puritans, among whom was John Winthrop. lie arrived at Salem in 1630. Having founded with a number of others the settlement ofWa- tertown, Mass., Phillipps became the first pastor of the Church, and as such lie continued Ins labors till near the time ,.!' his death, which occurred duly l. 1644. Phillipps possessed no small degree of intellectual acu- men, and was an able controversial writer, lie was a man of greal independence of mind, and adhered with unyielding tenacity to his conscientious convictions. He seems in have been in advance of nearly all his con- temporaries in regard to the principles ofstricl I longre- gationalism; insomuch that bis views were, for a time, regarded as novel and extreme. His ministry was marked by great diligence and fervor, and attended with rich blessings. His publications arc. Reply to the < 'onfutalim of some Grounds of Infant Baptism ; </.< also Concerning the Form .,/' ,, Church, put forth against me by on* Thomas Lamb (Lund. 1645, lint. See' .Mather. Magnolia, iii, 82-84, 162 ; Winthrop, Journal; Sprague, Annalsofth Amer. Pulpit, i, 15 17. (J.H.W.)