Aren M. Maeir, Professor, The Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, BarIlan University and Director, The Tell esSafi/Gath Archaeological Project, The Institute of Archaeology

The Philistines are wellknown from biblical texts as one of the main adversaries of the ancient Israelites. At the same time, the biblical narrative indicates that other types of interactions also were the norm. Recent excavations in Philistia, and in particular those at Tell esSafi, biblical Gath of the Philistines, hometown of Goliath, have provided exciting evidence of the very complex interaction between these two cultures, revealing the multilayered facets of what could be termed a Frenemy relationship between the Philistines and Israelites. In addition, recent finds have very much changed our understandingof who the Philistines were, where they came from, and how their culture formed, transformed, and eventually disappeared. These topics will be addressed in this lecture.

The David Kipper Ancient Israel Lecture Series was established through a gift from Barbara Kipper and the Kipper Family and includes an annual public lecture as well as a lecture for scholars at the Oriental Institute.

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