THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Thus declares the Lord God: Because the Philistines have acted out of vengeance and have harbored animosity with full intent, utterly seeking their destruction and fulfilling their long-standing hatred; therefore, the Lord God says, Behold, I will raise My hand against the Philistines and will wipe out the remnants in the coastal regions, executing great retribution upon them, punishing them in wrath; and they will know that I am the Lord when I enact My vengeance upon them. This also applies to the foreigners who have sought vengeance, taking delight in their revenge and aiming to obliterate them forever.
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Therefore, says the Sovereign Lord, behold, I will extend My hand against these foreigners and will annihilate the Cretans, destroying what remains on the shores, executing fierce retribution upon them, leading them to know I am the Sovereign Lord when I carry out My vengeance upon them.
Following the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Seir, who are also related to Israel through Lot, the focus turns to the Philistines. The LXX translates them as ἀλλοφύλους, meaning outsiders; not simply a general reference to all nations outside Israel, but specifically those of their own nation, referred to today as Palestine. This transformation is in line with Greek convention, where the letter phi is often replaced by pi, similar to the Greek and Latin term for Easter, which deviates from the original Hebrew.
The term Philistines denotes those who have fallen from grace—they were intoxicated by the golden chalice of Babylon and rejoice ferociously, harboring a deep-seated resentment for Israel, a feeling that has separated them from God's people. Although the Lord declares that He will take retribution and repay (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19), they themselves pursue vengeance, actively perpetrating their animosity.
They shall face the outstretched hand of the Lord, which will lead to the destruction of the destroyers. Interestingly, the LXX translated the term as Cretans, though other translators, including Aquila, Simmachus, and Theodotion, rightly rendered it as the Hebrew term chorethim—meaning annihilators or exterminators—not only in this instance but also in the prophecy against the Philistines, where it is stated that Gaza will be plundered, Ascalon will face extinction, and the cities of Azotus and Akkaron will be eradicated.
Woe to those who inhabit the coast, you foreigners of Crete; the word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of outsiders, and I will eliminate you from your abode. Crete will become pastures for flocks, a shelter for sheep (Soph. 2:4-6). Here too, the LXX translates as Crete, while other translators convey ὄλεθρον (or κάῤῥῥον), denoting extermination or obliteration. In the preceding prophecy, through God's guidance, we addressed what seemed fitting.
Thus, regarding David's two forces, one designated phelethi and the other segethi (2 Samuel 15), the latter came to be known as chorethim (or cherethim), meaning slayers, for they are relentless in their actions. The Lord will bring destruction upon all remnants in the coastal territories, laid bare to the turbulent waves, and will unleash not a minor but a fierce vengeance, so that His wrath may eclipse His mercy, and when He executes this punishment in fury, then the Philistines will know He is the Lord.