According to the Bible, the Philistines originated in a place known as Caphtor. In Amos 9:7, God declares: 'I brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, but also the Philistines from Caphtor.' (1) Jeremiah 47:4b refers to the Philistines, the remnant from the island of Caphtor, while the Table of Nations lists the Philistines and Caphtorites as ethnic cousins (Gen.
If the biblical Caphtor indeed refers to the region of the Aegean Sea, and if the Philistines were truly of Caphtorite origin, then it might be expected that evidence corroborating the Caphtorite/Aegean origin of the Philistines could be found in a comparison of the Bible to Homer's great epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, with their settings in the ancient Aegean world.
True, I brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, but also Philistines from
Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir." (9:7) When we understand that chosenness means we are held accountable to a Torah-mandated standard of behavior, we guard against assuming an attitude of arrogance.
Did I not redeem Israel from Egypt, and the Philistines from
Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?" (Amos 9:7).
the land of Egypt but also the Philistines from
Caphtor and the Arameans
Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from
Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?" (21) This verse may serve to challenge the idea that Christians alone are the recipients of God's salvation.
The Bible states that their place of origin was
Caphtor: Mizraim begot the Ludim.
/ Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, / and the Philistines from
Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?"
After all, the Philistines were brought out of
Caphtor and the Aramaians from Kir just as much as Israel was brought out of Egypt.
