In this episode, Rabbi Reinman describes the rise of the Philistine confederation and its conquest of the land of Israel.
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Chapter Twenty-Five: The Philistine Occupation
Philistia was a confederation of the five powerful cities − Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath and Ekron. It was a militaristic society similar to Sparta in Greece a few hundred years later and Prussia in modern times. The primary focus of a militaristic society is military power and preparedness. Resources, education and social structures are directed toward building and maintaining a powerful military. There is a strong emphasis on discipline, obedience and social control. Physical strength and fighting skills are glorified. Individual rights are restricted in the name of national security and military discipline.
When the books of the Prophets mention nations, they usually identify them by their nationalities and by their kings. When the books of Joshua, Judges and I Samuel mention the Philistines, however, they speak about “the five Philistine commanders” of the five respective garrison cities.[1] The implication is that these commanders operated without answering to any king or higher political authority. And yet, when David flees from King Saul he seeks refuge with King Achish of the Philistine city of Gath. It would seem, therefore, that Philistia was ruled by a diarchy, two co-rulers, a king who governed internal affairs and a commander who ruled over the military and foreign affairs.
The Torah tells about a pact between Abraham and Avimelech, the Philistine king of Gerar. At a later date, there was another pact between Isaac and the same Avimelech. In both cases, the Torah reports that he came with his military commander, and surprisingly, the Torah identifies him by name as Phichol.[2] This seems to indicate that Avimelech and Phichol were co-equal rulers and that an important pact could not be concluded without the consent of both of them.
During the Conquest, the Jewish people were unable to make inroads into Philistia, which was in the portion promised to the tribe of Judah. Over the centuries, the Philistines power grew. They developed advanced iron weapons and fortified their cities. During the times of Shamgar ben Anath, there were some border clashes with Israel. When the Ammonites invaded Israel during the times of Jephte, the Philistines sent troops to support them. For the most part, however, they were content to bide their time and consolidate their power.
In 950 b.c.e., the Philistines mounted their first major assault on the heartland of Israel, quickly overrunning the country. With typical Philistine military efficiency, the occupation government established a chain of military garrisons across the land, clasping the entire country in an iron grip. The victory was complete, establishing a Philistine territorial hegemony over Israel that would lead to nearly a century of bloodshed, misery and exploitation. It would also spark fundamental changes in Jewish society.
For the first two decades of Philistine occupation, the subjugation of the Jewish people was widespread and pervasive, with no charismatic Judge to galvanize and inspire the people. Prospects brightened somewhat in 930 b.c.e. with the emergence as Judge of a dynamic new leader named Samson.
The Samson story has been romanticized and fictionalized to the point where it bears no resemblance to the actual biblical story. He is depicted as a musclebound Hercules-type and his marriage to Delilah as a torrid love affair. A simple reading of the biblical text, however, presents an entirely different picture …
Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.
[1] Joshua 13:3; Judges 3:3, 16:8, 16:18, 16:27; I Samuel 5:8, 5:11, 6:16, 7:7, 29:7.
[2] Bereishis 21:22, 21:32, 26:26.
