This study of the history of the Philistines during the first quarter of the first millennium BCE has a twofold aim: First, to examine in detail a number of ancient texts, mainly biblical until the rise of the neo-assyrian empire, while evaluating each text in its own right as a potential historical source. Second, to offer a synthetic reconstruction of the course of Philistine history between 1000-730 BCE, employing the results of the textual study in conjunction with those of recent archaelogical excavations in Philistia.
This is the first monograph to be devoted to the Philistines during this critical period in the history of the Ancient Near East.
Examines in detail a number of texts, mainly biblical, from before the rise of the neo-Assyrian empire and evaluates each as a potential historical source. Using that data, then constructs a history of the people during the quarter-millennium of what is generally considered their Dark Ages between their supposed defeat at the hands of David and their conquest by Tiglath-pileser III. A variety of names and citations are indexed, but not subjects. Revised from a 1991 doctoral dissertation for Harvard University. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
