A non-Semitic people, originally a group of the Sea Peoples, who settled in southern Palestine in the 12th century bc. Having established five cities—Ashdod, Askelon, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza—they gained control of land and sea routes and proved a formidable enemy to the Israelites, inflicting defeats on Samson and Saul. King David, however, gained decisive revenge (c.1000 bc) and from then on Philistine power declined until they were assimilated with the Canaanites.