The Philistines were zealous idolaters, and in times of great religious apostasy they succeeded in introducing the worship of their gods among the Israelites, especially that of Baal and Ashtaroth.

D'you remember what a row he kicked up when he heard Acton say that the Philistines were cads for shooting at us with catapults?" "Yes," answered Morris; "and if he hates us, he hates Blake a jolly sight worse.

His glaive was as a great colestaff, and there was thereon six shekels of iron, and his squire went tofore him and cried against them of Israel, and said they should choose a man to fight a singular battle against Goliath, and if he were overcome the Philistines should be servants to Israel, and if he prevailed and overcame his enemy, they of Israel should serve the Philistines, and thus he did cry forty days long.

But Philistines, Moab and Ammon, were distinctions entirely lost before the Christian era.