Judges and United Monarchy

Historical Overview 1446 – Exodus 1406 – Conquest Ca – Period of the Judges – David reigns – Solomon reigns 930 – Kingdom divides

Historical Overview Israel 1446 – Exodus 1406 – Conquest Ca – Period of the Judges – David reigns – Solomon reigns 930 – Kingdom divides Egypt Egypt’s New Kingdom = ca – 1100 After Ramses II (1290– 1224), slow decline Egypt’s Intermediate Kingdom (1100—730) Kushites rule over Egypt (730—670) Assyrians rule over Egypt ( )

Historical Overview Israel 1446 – Exodus 1406 – Conquest Ca – Period of the Judges – David reigns – Solomon reigns 930 – Kingdom divides Philistines (Sea Peoples)

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 BC and objects of Aegean origin at Hazor and Megiddo. Sum: Early migration of “Sea People” of similar origin.

Philistines Very powerful from Time of Samson, Saul, David Matches the biblical record Philistine “Pentapolis” Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza

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 party Loved beer and wine Well-managed breweries and wineries Drank in large quantities Religion: Similar to Canaanites Baal, Ashtorah, Dagon and others.

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.