The Philistines were a sea people who settled along the coast of Canaan and built five prominent cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Gath.1 Each of their cities was governed by a single ruler, who was sometimes called a king.2 The Old Testament relates their origin to Caphor (Genesis 10:14; 1 Chronicles 1:12; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7) which may be Crete.3 They seem to have arrived in the region about the same time as the Israelites and they were fierce in battle, defeating the Hittite, Ugaritic, and Amurru kingdoms. The Philistines will be mentioned often in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, since they are the primary political enemy of Israel in this period of time.4
1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.