Philistine

In 604 BC, the Philistines, who had been under the rule of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (911–605 BC), were ultimately vanquished by Nebuchadnezzar II of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626–539 BC). Much like neighbouring Israel and Judah, the Philistine confederation's autonomy was crushed by foreign forces by the end of the Iron Age, reducing them to be vassals of the Assyrians, the Egyptians, and later the Babylonians. Historical sources suggest that Babylonian armies under Nebuchadnezzar II thoroughly destroyed Ashkelon and Ekron in response to a Philistine revolt, and the associated exile of much of the Philistine population during this time caused them to lose their distinct identity in Babylonia. By the late 5th century BC, the Philistines no longer appear as a distinct group in historical or archaeological records, though the extent of their assimilation remains a subject of debate.