pe.lish.ti identifies Philistine people collectively and, in singular form, an individual confronting Israel.

The term designates Philistine people as a collective group, especially in accounts of conflict, encampments, garrisons, and territory; its singular form can identify an individual member of that people.

1. Philistine people and individual members · dominant

   The masculine plural absolute forms identify a people encountered in battle and military settings: in 1 Samuel 13:5 the APB renders their assembly to fight Israel, while in 1 Chronicles 11:16 it renders a garrison in Bethlehem. The singular absolute form identifies an individual speaker or opponent in 1 Samuel 17:10 and 1 Samuel 17:32, where the APB renders a Philistine who taunts Israel and whom David offers to fight. The term also marks territory or possessions belonging to this people in 1 Chronicles 10:9 and 1 Kings 15:27.

   1 Samuel 13:51 Chronicles 11:161 Samuel 17:101 Samuel 17:321 Chronicles 10:91 Kings 15:27

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB generally renders the plural forms as “the Philistines” and the singular forms as “the Philistine.” It also uses the term in phrases concerning a camp, garrison, land, or place belonging to them.