The Philistines, an ancient people who settled in the coastal regions of Canaan, are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as adversaries of the Israelites. Their religious practices and deities played a significant role in their culture and interactions with the Israelites. The Philistine pantheon included several gods, the most prominent of which are Dagon, Ashtoreth, and Baal-Zebub.

Dagon

Dagon is perhaps the most well-known Philistine deity, often associated with grain and agriculture. The Bible records several instances involving Dagon, highlighting his significance among the Philistines. In Judges 16:23, the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon, celebrating their capture of Samson: "Now the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate, saying, 'Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.'" The temple of Dagon in Ashdod is notably mentioned in 1 Samuel 5, where the Ark of the Covenant was placed after being captured by the Philistines. The presence of the Ark caused the statue of Dagon to fall and break, demonstrating the superiority of the God of Israel over the Philistine god.

Ashtoreth

Ashtoreth, also known as Astarte, was a goddess worshiped by various ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Philistines. She was associated with fertility, love, and war. The Bible references the worship of Ashtoreth in connection with the Philistines and other neighboring peoples. In 1 Samuel 31:10, after the death of King Saul, the Philistines placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, indicating the goddess's importance in their religious practices: "They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan."

Baal-Zebub

Baal-Zebub, meaning "lord of the flies," was another deity worshiped by the Philistines, particularly in the city of Ekron. This god is mentioned in 2 Kings 1:2-3, where King Ahaziah of Israel sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub regarding his recovery from an injury: "Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, 'Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.' But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, 'Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?"'" This incident underscores the tension between the worship of foreign gods and the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

The Philistine gods, as depicted in the Bible, often served as symbols of the spiritual and cultural conflict between the Israelites and their neighbors. The narratives involving these deities highlight the challenges faced by the Israelites in maintaining their covenantal faith amidst the surrounding pagan influences.