One of the "Sea Peoples," originally from the Aegean, who settled on the coastal plain of southern Eretz Israel. They are mentioned frequently in the Bible during the period of the Judges, though the very earliest knowledge of them dates from the twelfth century BCE. In about the year 1190 BCE, Ramses III of Egypt repelled their advances, forcing them to settle in the lowlands. The Philistines extended their hold over this area and into the Negev, founding five principalities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath. Joshua did not succeed in overcoming them, and they attempted to extend their territory into the mountain areas, waging war on the Israelites in the process. In one of those battles they destroyed Shiloh and captured the Ark of the Covenant. Years later, Saul attacked them with initial success, but he was subsequently defeated and fell in battle at the foot of Mount Gilboa. His successor, David, drove them back to the coastal region, forcing their surrender.
Though the Philistines thereafter ceased to be a major threat to Judah, they continued on occasion to wage war on the Israelites. King Uzziah and King Hezekiah defeated them in battle as did the kings of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Tyre and Sidon. In the course of time they were apparently assimilated into the local cultures and eventually disappeared completely. Recently, archaeologists have uncovered ancient Ekron and sites near Kfar Menahem and Revidim. Eretz Israel was known as Palestine, a name derived from the word Philistine.
