Background: The Sons of Anak

The Philistines, those residents of Canaan who were not eradicated when the Israelites took possession of the country under Joshua, continued to war against the twelve tribes. These warriors from the sea occupied coastal lands along the Mediterranean Sea, including what is now the Gaza Strip. Shortly after the time of Gideon, the Philistines again oppressed the Israelites. These depredations continued for four decades, and Samson was ineffective in delivering Israel. We saw earlier how the Philistines oppressed the Israelites, forbidding them to have blacksmiths who might fashion metal into weapons of war (1 Samuel 13:19, 20).

Over the decades, Israel was defeated in battle time and again, being kept in virtual servility. The ark of the covenant was even taken (1 Samuel 4:1–11), and Shiloh was all but destroyed. Samuel rallied the Israelites and defeated the Philistines at Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:5–14), but Philistia rebounded and took the foothills of Canaan, establishing garrisons on the hilltops. Before the conquest and occupation of Canaan, the Lord had instructed Moses to send spies into the land. The report of these spies is found in Numbers 13:25–33.

Only Joshua and Caleb returned with a positive report, urging immediate action with the real prospect of victory. The other ten spies were intimidated by what they had seen and did not hold anything back when they reported to Moses (vv. 27, 28).

They saw men of large stature, who were fierce warriors.

“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (v. 33).

The sons of Anak had originally come from the deserts east of the Jordan River and migrated to the foothills of Judea. Then they were driven from there by Joshua and settled in the coastal cities of Gath, Gaza, and Ashdod (Joshua 11:21, 22)—Philistine cities where they formed a loose defensive alliance with the Philistines.

The Israelites eventually subjugated most of Canaan, dividing the land among the twelve tribes and settling down to domesticity. But they had not completed the task set before them by God. By failing to displace the original inhabitants of Canaan, as God directed, Israel was forced into a contentious association with these nations, which continues to this day.