We still have much to learn about the Philistines, the people described in the Bible as inhabitants of Philistia (or Palestina), a coastal plain of southwestern Palestine in an area west of Jerusalem and Bethlehem that was comprised of five cities – Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza. Reliefs and inscriptions found in the temple of Ramses lll in Egypt give us insight into the Philistines’ appearance and technology. Their soldiers were quite tall and clean shaven. They wore breastplates and short kilts, and their superior weapons included chariots drawn by two horses. They carried small shields and fought with straight swords and spears. Nothing is known for certain about the language of the Philistines (probably Semitic). The deities they worshiped included Baal, Astarte, and Dagon.

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