PHILISTINES AND ISRAELITES/JUDAHITES: Antagonism and Interaction

Textual - and primarily biblical - evidence on the relations between the Philistines and Israelites/Judahites is often interpreted in rather linear and somewhat simplistic terms, that of two cultures which had primarily antagonistic relations during the Iron Age. A close look at the relevant biblical texts, and more so, at the archaeological evidence for the inter-relations between these cultures during the Iron Age, reveals the much more complex, nuanced and multi-faceted character of the relevant cultural interactions. Here, this will be illustrated with a particular emphasis on the archaeological evidence.