The Philistines in the Bible and Modern Era

 

 

The Philistines mentioned in the Bible and the modern Palestinians are not directly related by blood. Their relationship is complex due to historical changes and various influences, but they are not of the same bloodline.

 

The conflict and wars mentioned in the Bible between the ancient Israelites and other nations, including the Philistines.

 

Modern Palestinians refer to people residing in the region of Palestine. The Palestinian population comprises mainly individuals of Arab descent or those with Arab culture. There is a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds and cultural influences among them.

 

In 732 BC, during the reign of an Assyrian king en route to conquer Egypt, the cities of the Philistines were swept away. Many Philistines were captured and brutally killed.

 

Ten years later, the Philistines barely survived when the king of Assyria attacked and destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

 

However, it was the Babylonians who annihilated the Philistines, as well as the people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, in 586 BC. They burned down the cities where both these people lived and took people as captives.

 

After 70 years, the Jewish people were allowed to return to their homeland following the decree of King Cyrus. However, the Philistine people could not return, and they disappeared from history since then.

 

The region where the Philistines once lived was known as Philistia or Palestine, derived from the Philistine people. It means 'the land where the Philistine people lived.'

 

When the Roman Empire rose to power as a global superpower, Israel continued to resist. Jews initiated a second revolt in 135 AD. Emperor Hadrian of Rome crushed the Jewish revolt and resolved to eradicate Israel, expelling all Jews from the land known as Palestine.

 

Jews still believed that the land where the Canaanites or Philistines once lived was the promised land from God.

 

Roman Emperor Hadrian, in order to erase the Jewish identity, removed the name Israel from Roman maps and named the land Palestine. For almost two thousand years, the official name for the region was Palestine.

 

In 1948 when Jews established nation of Israel, they named the land 'Israel' instead of 'Palestine.'

 

The Philistines mentioned in the Bible, and modern Palestinians have a geographical association, but they are not of the same bloodline. Modern Palestinians are not of the same tribe as the Philistines, who were once enemies of David.

 

Rev. Doug Choi, Ph.D., President and Professor of Dogmatics of Peniel Theological Seminary, Busan Korea