ii. 23) had in the time of Abraham and Isaac established a

kingdom, the capital of which was at Gerar, and possessed a standing army (Gen. xxi. 22; xxvi. 26). After the Exodus, Gerar disappears from history, and the power of Philistia is concentrated in five new towns, _Gaza_, _Ashdod_, _Ashkelon_, _Gath_, _Ekron_, each raised on its slight eminence above the maritime plain, each possessing its dependent or “daughter towns” and villages (Josh. xv. 45–47; 1 Ch. xviii. 1), and each having its own king or prince, who all consulted and acted as one. “The third immigration of the _Cherethim_ would account for the sudden increase of the strength of the Philistines at this period.” See Pusey, _Comment. on Amos_ ix. 7.

216 – See pp. 158, 159.

217 – See p. 229.

218 – Thomson, _The Land and the Book_, p. 566.

219 – Thomson, _The Land and the Book_, p. 552. “So great is the dread of fire in harvest-time, that the Arabs punish with death any one who sets fire to a wheat-field, even though done by accident.” _Ibid._ p. 553.

220 – “The five cities of the Philistines divided, as it were, their idolatry between them; Ashdod being the chief seat of the worship of _Dagon_; Ashkelon of _Derceto_; Ekron of _Baal-zebub_; Gaza of the god _Marna_ (‘nature’).” Pusey, _Comment. on Amos_ i. 8.

221 – Kurtz’s _Sacred History_, p. 171.

222 – Some think during the judgeship of Ehud, others during that of Gideon. Kurtz, p. 164.

223 – See Calendar, p. 155.

224 – For David’s subsequent connection with Moab, see p. 303.

225 – The situation of Ramathaim = _double eminence_, is uncertain. “But the place long pointed out as Samuel’s tomb, and therefore the site of his birth, 1 Sam.