Philistia

Philistia (Hebrew:פלשת‎, Pleshet) was, according to Joshua 13:3 and 1 Samuel 6:17, a Pentapolis in south-western Levant, comprising Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Gaza.

The Pentapolis is described in the Hebrew Bible as being in constant struggle and interaction with the neighbouring Egyptians, Israelites and Canaanites, gradually absorbing the Canaanite culture. Philistia ruled major parts of southern Canaan at the peak of its expansion, but was eventually conquered and subdued by neighbouring Israelites.