philistine warfare Summary and Overview

PHILISTINE WARFARE According to all accounts, the Philistines far surpassed the Hebrews in culture, and in war-chariots and cavalry they were superior to the Israelites. 1 Sam 13:5.
The heavy-armed soldiers wore a round copper helmet, a coat-of-mail, brazen greaves. Their weapons were a javelin and long lance, and each had an attendant to bear his shield and weapons, like the Greeks in the Homeric poems. The light-armed soldiers were archers. The Philistines had fortified encampments, surrounded their towns with lofty walls, and kept the territories they had conquered in subjection by means of garrisons. They were a commercial as well as a warlike people, and not only competed with the Phoenicians by sea, but endeavored to keep in their own hands the inland and caravan traffic.