We have now reached the apex of the struggle between Philistia and Israel. Near the end of the Iron I period, in the succeeding stories of David's relationship with Achish, king of Gath, there seems to be a definite shift in the strategy of the Philistines. They seem to have become very expansionist minded. No longer content with the coastal plain, they made inroads into the foothills, the Shephelah, beginning in Saul's day. Initially, they had the upper hand with their superior skills in metalworking and in the strength that their confederation provided, as illustrated by 1 Samuel 13, especially by verses 19-22. But this superiority would be affected by David's shrewd relationship with Achish. Who was this king of Gath?

The Anchor Bible (McCarter 1980, 356-57) states that the name Achish may be Philistine in origin.¹ Since we do not yet possess sufficient epigraphic material of a Philistine language (with the exceptions perhaps of the Deir Alla tablets and the seal at Ashdod, both still undeciphered), this etymology for Achish may be premature. The commentary also cites Mitchell (1967, 415), who points out that the name Achish was found on an Eighteenth Dynasty (Late Bronze Age) Egyptian writing board with Cretan (kftyw) names. Mitchell further links the name Achish to that of Anchises, a Trojan, the father of Aeneas, making the same connection I proposed in chapter 3 (p. 69; McCarter 1980, 356; Mitchell 1967, 415). So too does Wainwright (1959, 76-78), who concludes his discussion on the plague and Apollo Smintheus by stating, "There is, thus, much to connect the Philistines with Dardanians and originally at some point with the Troad."

The name Goliath, like Achish, is not Semitic, but rather Anatolian (McCarter 1980, 291, Mitchell 1967, 415; Wainwright 1959, 79). Not all agree though; the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (2:524) proposes that Goliath may have been a remnant of one of the aboriginal groups of giants of Palestine who now were in the employ of the Philistines.

This discussion of names provides some background to the major story of David's encounter with King Achish of Gath.