Thomas. Your post..." There is extensive reference to an established, powerful Philistine presence in the old Testament, so it obviously predates the Israelites"....
FYI...
Gath of the Philistines was one of the five main cities of the Philistines. The Philistines, a people who settled in the Southern Levant during the early part of the Iron Age I (c. 1200 BCE), were one of the "Sea Peoples", an enigmatic group of peoples who appeared in the eastern Mediterranean during the final stages of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age. The Philistines, who appear to have originated from the Aegean region, brought with them a unique culture, highly influenced by their Aegean origins. During the first centuries of their occupation of the region of "Philistia" (the Southern Coastal Plain of current-day Israel and the "Gaza Strip"), they became the predominant local power, representing a major threat to the other ethnic groups in the region, including the then nascent Israelite tribes. The biblical narrative describing the intense conflict between the Philistines and the Israelites apparently mirrors this situation. Traditions such as the stories of Samson, David & Goliath, etc., are all to be understood in this context. The very negative view of the Philistines that is portrayed in the Bible is clearly due to this rivalry. In fact, the archaeological remains, both from Tell es-Safi and from other Philistine sites reveal a rich and sophisticated culture.
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