In a recent interview on one of the news channels, a Palestinian young man made the comment that their ancestors, the Philistines, have always been in Israel. I have also heard the same comments from others. Being descendants of the Philistines, therefore, give them the right to have the new state of Palestine. Those who do not know, or studied Biblical history are unaware that the Arabs do not descend from the Philistines, who were the bitter enemies of Israel.
The Arabs and the Jews are from the line of Abraham who was a Semite from the line of Shem, the first son of Noah (Genesis 5: 32; Genesis 10; Genesis 11). The Jews came through the line of Isaac, Abraham’s son with Sarah, his wife (Genesis 21; Matthew 1: 1-17).
Some of the Arabs came though the line of Ishmael, whom Hagar, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham (Genesis 16). After the death of Abraham’s wife, Sarah, he married Keturah and she bore him six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah (Genesis 25: 1,2). These six sons of Abraham along with Ishmael, their brother, are the ancestors of the Arabs.
The Philistines, however, are from the line of Ham, the second son of Noah (Genesis 5: 32; Genesis 10:1- 14). Therefore, the present Palestinian Arabs did not descend from the ancient Philistines. They are the descendants of Abraham, like their cousins the Jews.
