The Biblical mention of Philistines, in the Book of Genesis, continues to pose a problem for archeologists and Bible scholars alike. They do not appear to have had a home until the beginning of the 12th century bce. The debate continues on whether or not they came for Crete, Cyprus or Anatolia. In the past Bible scholars have claimed that their original homeland was Crete. Early Archeologists agreed with that and each new discovery seemed to verify it. Egyptian texts were discovered that contain the name Kieftu which was interpreted to be Caphtor the home of the Biblical Caphtorim. The problem was the Caphtorim were listed among the sons of Ham along with Egypt and the Cashluhim. The inhabitants of Crete were Mycenaeans or Minoans, who were Indo-European. The consensus was that the Bible must be wrong. In an effort to compromise with historians Bible scholars reached the conclusion that it was an error in copying. The discovery of the Medinet–Habu inscriptions in Egypt mentioned an affiliation of people that Ramesses III battled with. Among those were the Plst or perhaps the Prst which was interpreted as Philistines. It was the earliest mention of them outside the Bible and the date for their presence in Canaan was set at no earlier than 1200 bce. That seemed settle it. Theologians agreed that the mention of the Philistines during the time of the patriarchs must be anachronistic. Skeptics jumped on the bandwagon and insisted that was evidence that the history of the Bible was fabricated, at least, up to the time of the Kings of Israel. The meant there was no Conquest of Canaan, no Exodus and no enslavement in Egypt.
Along with the inscriptions at Medinet-Habu were wall paintings depicting battle scenes with what was interpreted as “Sea People”, from the Egyptian n3 h3t.w n p3ym, which was translated as Hanaubu. The confusion appeared to be cleared up. If the invaders were sea people, they surely must have been Mycenaean. Crete seemed as good of a place to have them coming from as any, especially since the Philistines appeared in Canaan around the time the Mycenaean culture disappeared from Crete. On second thought, the Philistines could just as well have originated on Cyprus which sounds more like Caphtor than Crete. Theologians agreed and the new home of the Philistines became Cyprus. It was closer to the Levant and would better explain how the Philistines came to be united with Syrian Kingdoms against Egypt. It seemed to fit the description that Ramesses III gave of the battles, except that the Hittites were mentioned. There was one more place that could fit into the mix of Philistine homelands and that was Cappadocia. The name could be rearranged in such a way as to sound similar to Caphtor. That would also agree with the Philistines being Indo-European. That decision was made because of the similarity between Philistine and Mycenaean pottery.
Genesis 11:13-14 was initially misinterpreted and was allowed to remain so and actually tells us where the Philistines came from:
And Mizraim begat Ludim,and Anamin and Lehabim, and Napthuhim. And Pathrusim and Casluhim (out of whom came the Philistim) and Capthorim.
Theologians agree that Mizraim was the Hebrew name for Egypt. According to tablets discovered at Tel Amarna it was also a name that Canaanites used. In one letter the king of Byblos, Rib-Addi wrote to the Pharoah Akenhaten thus:
"Now I cannot enter the land of Mitsru I am old and I suffer of a serious disease in my own flesh."
It is also agreed on that The Egyptians were Hamites. The Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Napthuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim and Capohtorim would all be from the sons of Ham.If the Philistines are to be equated with the Kieftu that would mean the Philistines were sailing to Egypt from Crete 3,000 years prior to the period they were supposed to have suddenly appeared in Egypt. Still there was no better explanation of why the Philistines had not been mentioned in Egyptian texts prior to the reign of Ramesses III. One possibility is that the Egyptians may not have known them as Philistines, or Prst, earlier. Like all other nations, including Israel, words and names changed with customs. Another explanation would be that the Prst and the Kieftu may not have been the same people. The Prst may possibly have been the Philistines, but may not have come from Crete. Some archeologists opted for Cappadocia being Caphtor and although the Philistines were in Anatolia, there is no evidence to support that being their homeland. Even if that theory was correct the majority of archeologists have suggested that the Ionians and other Aryans did not enter Asia Minor from Greece, but the other way around. There is evidence to suggest that the Philistines were in Egypt long before they were in Cappadocia.
According to one theory the Philistines/Mycenaeans invaded the Greek isles, from Anatolia, around 1,000 bce, and were given credit for destroying the Hittite empire, as well as Troy. The newer theory is that the Philistines settled Crete from the Levant, rather than originating on Crete. The Philistines, we are told, replaced the Mycenaeans on Crete. There are signs of an invasion from outside, rather than an internal struggle with the Mycenaeans. The Philistines were not Semitic but they may have been of Hamitic decent as the Bible claims. The Medinet Habu inscriptions were referring to the people of Pelistim, who were not living in the Greek isles at the time. The inscriptions of Ramesses III mentioned countries that were affiliated with the Prst, which were all in Syria or Anotolia with the possible exception of Alashia.
The inscription is lengthy and usually quoted a few lines at a time, which can be taken out of context and appear to verify the critics belief. When presented in its entirety, together with known history, shows the real context of the inscription:
"The countries -- --, the [Northerners] in their isles were disturbed,taken away in the [fray] – at one time. Not one stood before their hands, from Kheta, Kode, Carchemish, Arvad, Alashia, they were wasted.{The}y {[set up]} a camp in one place in Amor. Theydesolated his people and his land like that which is not. They came with fire prepared before them, forward to Egypt. Their main support was Peleset, Tjekker, Shekelesh, Denyen, and Weshesh. (These) lands were united, and they laid their hands upon the land as far as the Circle of the Earth. Their hearts were confident, full of their plans. Now, it happened through this god, the lord of gods, that I was prepared and armed to [trap] them like wild fowl. He furnished my strength and caused my plans to prosper.I went forth, directing these marvelous things. I equipped my frontier in Zahi, prepared before them. The chiefs,the captains of infantry, the nobles, I caused to equip the river-mouths [1], like a strong wall, with warships, galleys, and barges, [--]. They were manned [completely] from bow to stern with valiant warriors bearing their arms, soldiers of all the choicest of Egypt, being like lions roaring upon the mountain-tops. The charioteers were warriors [-- --], and all good officers, ready of hand. Their horses were quivering in their every limb,ready to crush the countries under their feet. I was the valiant Montu, stationed before them, that they might behold the hand-to-hand fighting of my arms. I, king Ramses III, was made a far-striding hero, conscious of his might, valiant to lead his army in the day of battle. Those who reached my boundary, their seed is not; their heart and their soul are finished forever and ever. As for those who had assembled before them on the sea, the full flame was in their front, before the river-mouths, and a wall of metal upon the shore surrounded them. They were dragged, overturned, and laid low upon the beach; slain and made heaps from stern to bow of their galleys, while all their things were cast upon the water. (Thus) I turned back the waters to remember Egypt; when they mention my name in their land, may it consume them, while I sit upon the throne of Harakhte, and the serpent-diadem is fixed upon my head, like Re. I permit not the countries to see the boundaries of Egypt to [--] [among] them. As for the Nine Bows, I have taken away their land and their boundaries; they are added to mine. Their chiefs and their people (come) to me with praise. I carried out the plans of the All-Lord, the august, divine father, lord of the gods."
Alashia is believed to have been Cyprus, but the inscription doesn't say Alashia was part of the affiliation, but that it was disturbed, by the invaders. The invaders were named as the Peleset, Tjekker, Shekelesh, Denyen, and Weshesh. All of those, except the Weshwesh and Peleset, are known from other texts, including Egyptian to have been in the Levant since at least the 15th century bce. There is evidence enough to believe that the Peleset were originally from the Mediterranean coast, between Egypt and Canaan. The Bible claims the Pelistim were related to the Cashluhim and Caphtorim, and the Philistines were descendents of those people who were descendents of Ham through Mizraim. Egyptian sources agree with the Bible that Mizraim was indeed the people of Egypt.
There is little evidence to suggest that the Denyen originated in the Greek isles and they appear to have been Semitic from Egyptian and Hittite texts. They were known as Denyen, Danunites, Danaoi, Danaus, Danaids, Dene, Danai, Danaian. They may have given their name to the Biblical Danites, who moved from central Canaan into Syria and were forced into the by mountains the Amorites. Danaian is a Semitic word derived from Kar-Duniyas, or the wall of the god D-iniyas, which indicated the area that was later Northern Babylonia. The Judge Deborah wrote of Dan remaining in ships while the other Israelites went north to battle the Canaanites and Syrians. They apparently had something in common with the sea going Philistines. The name Danaus originated with the Egyptians and may also have Semitic origins like so many other Egyptian words.
