[mississippi red-neck]

Do you have a source? (I'm just curious; I don't really have an opinion).

This is some of what the Bible has to say. As far as whether or not they are Semitic, there seems to be two different views.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia presents the case that they are and Aston's Bible Dictionary presents the case they are not.

It is too much to post here especially the ISBE reference.

Hope this helps.

Gen 10:6 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Gen 10:13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

Gen 10:14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

1Ch 1:11 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

1Ch 1:12 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.

[mississippi red-neck]

Aston's = Easton's Bible Dictionary.

[hlmencken3]

Genesis seems to indicate that the Phillistines were Hamitic, related to Egyptians and other Africans - definitely not Semites.

It seems neither modern scholarship nor the Bible identifies them as racial Semites, although intermarriage and the adoption of others' cultural norms cloud these kinds of isssues.

[tryon1ja]

The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition

(I am not Catholic but I read and reference their Bible because it better explains the historical events.)

Gen. 10:14 the Pathrusim,* the Casluhim, and the Caphtorim from whom the Philistines sprang.

* The Pathrusim: the people of upper (southern) Egypt; cf Is 11:11 ++The Lord shall again take it in hand to reclaim the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria and Egypt, Pathros, Ethiopia, and Elam+++ (Pathros....sea: where God's people lived in exile. Pathros: upper Egypt.........) Jer 44:1, Ex 29:14, Ex 30:14 Caphtorim: Crete; for Caphtor as the place of origin of the Philistines, cf Dt 2:23, Am 9:7, Jer 47:4.

The Bible Dictionary included in this Bible also state that
the Philistines were non-semitic invaders who gave their name to all of Palestine although they occupied only its southwestern plains.