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History of Palestine

As the all-powerful Philistines settled along the southern coastline, the Israelites in eastern Palestine were struggling for their existence. They fought off or attacked such groups as the Amorites, the Midianites, the Amelekites, and descendants of Lot, the Moabs and the Ammons. But their deadliest threat was to be the Philistines.

The Philistines began expanding their trade eastward to Arabia, and conflict with the Israelites became inevitable. It was customary for the twelve Israelite tribes to chose a 'judge' from among themselves, someone they respected, to guide and counsel them. One of these judges was Samson- who allegedly killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. But it was Samson's misfortune to fall in love with Delilah, the beautiful Philistine, to whom he revealed that the secret of his strength lay in the length of his hair. Whilst he slept, Delilah cut off his hair and the Philistines blinded him, and dragged him off in chains to the arena in Gaza. In his final act, Samson allegedly pushed down the pillars supporting the arena and brought it tumbling down over the spectators and himself.

Desperate for salvation, the Israelites demanded a king from their judge Samuel. A king, they said, could unite and strengthen their lot against the Philistines. Samuel chose Saul as king. This first attempt at a kingdom ended disastrously when the Philistines met the Israelites in battle on mount Gilboa. Saul and his sons were killed and the Philistines remained masters of the land.

The Philistines now installed David as their vassal king over the Jews. David had earlier taken refuge with the Philistines as Saul attempted to murder him. Ever since David slew Goliath, the giant Philistine, and the Israelites acclaimed David a hero, Saul had become increasingly jealous of David, and when he became Saul's target for assassination, David made his escape to the Philistines.

As ruler, David was not willing to continue as a vassal to the Philistines. He united the Israelites, put together a powerful army and occupied Jerusalem, that majestic city which sat high over a plateau. By that time, Jerusalem was controlled by the Jebusites, cousins to the Canaanites; and David's storming of Jerusalem was regarded by the Philistines as a rising against their supermacy. The Philistines now attacked their erstwhile vassal in his new capital, laying waste the surrounding districts which were the city's granary. But David defeated them with such losses that they retired to Philistia, never again to regain their supermacy. This was in about 975 BC.

David's son and successor, Solomon, (c.960-925 BC) wanted to built a temple in which to offer his sacrifices to God, and to house the 'Ark of the Covenant', a wooden chest in which the writings of Jewish law were kept. But Solomon did not have the architects, craftsmen and masons required for such an undertaking. He therefore turned for help to Hiram, king of Tyre.

Tyre was then a rich and prosperous trading centre, and Hiram sent his skilled labour to Jerusalem; where they built the famed 'Solomon Temple', using cedarwood brought in from Mount Lebanon. The Canaanite temples consisted essentially of an ante-room, an open courtyard or a large pillared room, and a sanctuary beyond, usually on a higher level reached by a short flight of steps. In this sanctuary was the altar on which sacrifices were offered in the sight of the assembled worshippers.