corner of Palestine with the Mediterranean Sea as their western border, Israel as their northern (Joppa) and eastern border, and the desert just south of Gaza as their southern border. They were so small a nation that they had only five cities of any significance (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath). But when Samson came on the scene, the Philistine nation had become great in power; so much so, that they held Israel under check. This power continued on into the time of David. Under his leadership,