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Who were these fearsome Plishtim? They were a tribe that came from the Greek Islands to the southern coastal area of Eretz Yisrael at the time that Bnei Yisrael was an up-and-coming but enslaved nation in Egypt. The secret to their strength was technological, especially in developing the ability to make iron tools of war (see Shmuel I, 13:19, regarding their "monopoly" in this realm). The wars against them were for dominion over Eretz Yisrael and the international routes that passed through it. See harsh prophecies against the people of Azza (the city of Gaza, which was one of the major Phlishti centers, along with Gat, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron) by Amos (1:6-8).
Despite the problematic nature of this hated enemy, we find that David was able to make headway with them … off the battlefield. His special personality was responsible for some of them repenting and joining Bnei Yisrael. The prospect of taking pagans and turning them into G-d fearers is something that we pray for on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur ("… all who has a soul … shall say: ‘Hashem, the G-d of Israel, rules, and His Kingdom is all-encompassing’").
Let us look at what happened in Gat, the city of King Achish. David first arrived there as he was fleeing from King Shaul. The people of the city referred to him as "the king of the land" (Shmuel I, 21:12). One of the great warriors of the city, who was eventually appointed as one of David’s three leading commanders (Shmuel II, 18:2), was Itai of Gat. Maybe one could claim that Itai was a Jew who happened to live in Gat, but he would be mistaken. The gemara (Avoda Zara 44a) says that David was able to use the crown of the conquered king, despite the fact that it had been used for idol worship, because Itai had removed it from idol use (which can be done only by an idol worshipper). We must conclude that Itai’s relationship with David caused him to stop his idolatrous ways. Itai led a group of 600 Gatites who were very loyal to David and joined him with their families (Shmuel II, 15:18-22).
Achish (the king) also was impressed by David and called him "an upright person" and "like an angel" (Shmuel I, 29:6-9). Such compliments only come from one who was deeply convinced of David’s fine character. Furthermore, Achish went as far as to swear in the name of Hashem (ibid. 6). So, we see that the manner in which David sanctified Hashem’s name brought pagans to join, either partially or fully, the fold of believers.
Most of the Plishtim deserved the harsh criticism of Amos and others, but some repented and even converted when approached in the manner in which David knew how to do. (We would just point out that today’s Palestinian’s have nothing to do with the Plishtim of old. Most of them, in fact, are relatively recent arrivals who immigrated to the Land when the Jewish pioneers’ development of the land caused a need for workers.)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
