New Perspectives on the Philistines in light of recent excavations at Tell es-Safi – biblical Gath of the Philistines

Abstract

The Philistines and their culture represent one of the most fascinating episodes in the history of the early Near East, particularly in light of the rich archaeological, biblical and epigraphic data relating to this culture, and the central role in which the Philistines are portrayed in the early biblical narratives. The last two decades of excavations at Tell es-Safi/Gath, identified as biblical Gath of the Philistines (home town of Goliath according to the biblical text), one of the five ci...