Exo 1:8-12 KJV [v.8] Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. [v. 9] And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: [v. 10] Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. [v. 11] Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. [v. 12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grievedbecause of the children of Israel.
Other versions make verse 10 and 12 plainer:-
(BBE) [Bible in Basic English] [v.10] Let us take care for fear that their numbers may become even greater, and if there is a war, they may be joined with those who are against us, and make an attack on us, and go up out of the land.
[v.12] .......And the children of Israel werehated by the Egyptians.
(CEV) [Contemporary English Version] [v.10] If we don't outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt.
[v.12] .... Because of this, the Egyptians hated them worse than before
(GNB) [Good News Bible] [v.10] In case of war they might join our enemies in order to fight against us, and might escape from the country. We must find some way to keep them from becoming even more numerous."
[v.12] ....The Egyptians came to fear the Israelites
From a simply historical perspective, the Philistines were militarily far stronger than the Israelites and could easily have overrun them, as they had earlier overrun the Canaanites along the more southern coast. Since the Philistines inhabited the rich coastal plains and foothills south of present-day Tel Aviv, they had no need of the more arid hinterland regions occupied by the Israelites, so largely them in peace.
The Israelites did fear the philistines as they had a giant of a soldier called Goliath, who realy scared them.
The Israelites believed a king would help them unite themselves against their enemy, the Philistines.
Ask for a king.
Philistines captured the ark from the Israelites in 1 Samuel chapter 5
King Saul.
At the time of Samson, the Israelites were being oppressed by the Philistines. The Philistines were a powerful group in the region, known for their advanced technology and military prowess. Samson was raised as a judge and deliverer by God to help liberate the Israelites from Philistine control, showcasing his strength and unique abilities in the struggle against their oppressors.
During the time of Samuel, the Israelites were fighting the Philistines when they suffered a significant defeat, losing about 30,000 soldiers. This battle is described in 1 Samuel 4, where the Israelites initially brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle, believing it would grant them victory. However, the Philistines defeated them decisively, leading to a major setback for the Israelites.
The Israelites and Philistines were often at war due to territorial disputes and cultural differences. The Philistines, who were a seafaring people, sought to expand their influence in the region, which led to conflicts with the Israelites, who were establishing their own kingdom. The struggle for control over the fertile lands of Canaan and key trade routes fueled ongoing hostilities, culminating in notable battles such as those involving figures like Saul and David in biblical narratives.
Yes, Joshua led the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan, which included battles against various groups, including the Philistines. While the Philistines were a prominent enemy during the period of the Judges and later, Joshua's campaign primarily focused on establishing Israelite control over the land. The Philistines continued to be a significant challenge for the Israelites even after Joshua's conquests.
The Philistines did not defeat the Chaldeans or conquer Babylon. Historically, the Chaldeans, particularly under King Nebuchadnezzar II, were a prominent power in Babylon and played a significant role in the conquest of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile of the Israelites. The Philistines were an ancient people primarily known for their conflicts with the Israelites and were not involved in the events surrounding Babylon's rise or fall.
Goliath was not a servant of God. he was from the tribe of the Philistines. The Philistines went collecting their camps together to wage war against the Israelites. The Philistines were on one side of the mountain and the Israelites on the other. A champion came forward from the Philistines and his name was Goliath. He was a very large, tall man that wore heavy armor. and he wanted to engage in warfare with the Israelites, because he knew how powerful he was . The israelites were God's chosen people. so certainly God would not have any sort of relationship with Goliath, except in determining who was going to take care of this monsterous man. David was no match for Goliath, however, he accepted the challenge and rejected the armor. His statement was"Jehovah will deliver me."