The Philistines are one of the most amazing cultures mentioned in the Old Testament. They are one of the few movements in the Ancient Near East that changed the course of the world. With 423 references in the biblical text about them—beginning with Genesis—understanding their culture becomes mandatory for any serious teaching of the Bible and for the study of history in general. A book like the Tel Miqne-Ekron Excavations (the first in a series to come) offers a unique, firsthand look into Philistine infiltration and occupation of Canaanite and Israelite territories. Since the Philistines occupied the site of Tel Miqne (biblical Ekron), their evolution and acculturation in the land of ancient Israel can be closely studied. This volume and the others to follow open the door into a fascinating look at their impact—not only in Israel but also in surrounding cultures--addressing questions that one can research such as: “Where did they come from?” “How did they live?” “How and what did they worship” “What were their gods like?” Consider this; archaeology is the major “science” contributing any new information to the study of the biblical text. It therefore becomes an indispensable tool/resource for individuals with a desire to comprehend what is actually going on in the biblical text. This is especially true with the 14years of excavations at Ekron now being made available in a digital format for in-depth study. The excavations at Ekron have changed the definition of the word Philistine (the modern name Palestine is derived from this word). While the word itself is defined as one who has no culture or is unsophisticated, based on archaeological and historical findings we now know it’s just the opposite. Tel Miqne-Ekron Excavations provides a realistic picture of this ancient culture, with detailed descriptions and actual drawings from the archaeologists of what was found. Included also are significant diagrams, illustrative reconstructions, and many first hand photos and drawings of not only their material culture (cult items, every day wares, etc., which cannot be obtained from other sources) but the actual occupational structures in which they lived and worshiped (which can no longer be seen today). Now, with Logos 5, these pictures, diagrams and reconstructions can be brought into a PowerPoint slide presentation to visually give a picture illustrating what can only otherwise be imagined. These combined resources (books like these and Logos 6) are a great resource for any pastor and teacher in bringing the biblical text to life. As the saying goes…”a picture is worth a thousand words.” For this writer, one great illustration is worth (at least in most cases) the price of any book.