Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English means “(from) the land of wanderers,” “(from the) land of strangers” (same as “Palestinian”). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 5:66

Then he marched off to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Marisa: From Hebron Judas struck out westward. For the land of the Philistines, see the comments on 1Macc 3.24. Instead of Marisa, the Greek manuscripts have “Samaria,” which makes no sense whatever. This is surely a textual problem, and all scholars accept here the reading of the Latin text, which has “Marisa.” This may be regarded as certain enough not to require a footnote. Marisa was a Gentile city about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) northeast of Hebron, and 37 kilometers (23 miles) southwest of Jerusalem.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• Then he and his men marched into the land of the Philistines and passed through the town of Marisa.

• Then on their way to invade the land of the Philistines, Judas and his men came to the town of Marisa.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.