Judges and United Monarchy

Historical Overview

1446 – Exodus

1406 – Conquest

Ca. 1400-1050 – Period of the Judges

1010-970 – David reigns

970-930 – Solomon reigns

930 – Kingdom divides

Historical OverviewIsrael

1446 – Exodus

1406 – Conquest

Ca. 1400-1050 – Period of the Judges

1010-970 – David reigns

970-930 – Solomon reigns

930 – Kingdom divides

Egypt

Egypt’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 – Exodus

1406 – Conquest

Ca. 1400-1050 – Period of the Judges

1010-970 – David reigns

970-930 – Solomon reigns

930 – Kingdom divides

Philistines (Sea Peoples)

Originally from Europe (Greece?)

Invaded Cyprus, Crete, Egypt, and Palestine ca. 1200—1100

1175 – invasion of Egypt; defeated by the Egyptians

After 1175, settled in Palestine

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

Philistines

Early 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”

Philistines

Where did these “early” Philistines come from? 1. Error in the text. Author was confused

2. 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.

Philistines

Very powerful from 1150-1000Time of Samson, Saul, David

Matches the biblical record

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

Philistine Pentapolis

Philistine Pentapolis

Philistines

Philistine power began to wane around 1000 B.C.

Pentapolis was crushed by David; semi-independent rule by Philistine cities

Later, 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 Culture

Very advanced Technology

Art

Military Weaponry

Loved to partyLoved beer and wine

Well-managed breweries and wineries

Drank in large quantities

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

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture

Philistines

Most of what we know from the Bible matches what we have found in archaeology and history

The difficulties (“early” vs. “later” Philistines) are easily solved.