One of the five main cities of the Philistines (along with Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath) on the coast between Gaza and Joppa. The reason the Philistines were so greatly feared by the Israelites was that they lived among them with three cities (Gaza, Ashdod and Ashkelon) spread along the coast and two (Gath and Ekron) inland. As a result they constantly harried them from within and were a major reason why the Israelites wanted a king. Only under David were the Philistines no longer a threat.