The Philistines were not native Canaanite people. They had migrated to Canaan from the northwest. They had by this time displaced the Canaanites in the southwest portion of the Promised Land. Because the land they occupied was part of what God had promised Israel, the Israelites were responsible to drive them out too. The Israelites were not successful in doing this. The Philistines increased in power and influence over the Israelites, eventually becoming the major enemy of Israel during King Saul"s reign more than three centuries later. In Joshua"s time, however, they were a smaller, secondary target of the Israelites. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Joshua 13:1-7 - Much Land Yet To Be Possessed
We do not know how long the war lasted. Probably about seven years, Joshua 14:10 (forty-five less thirty-eight). It was only in David's reign that the Canaanites were finally subdued. Note that Joshua took the land and then gave it to Israel. So Christ received the fullness of the Spirit and all spiritual blessings as the Trustee of those who believe; but we must claim and appropriate our heritage. So at last there will be rest, Joshua 11:23.
With Joshua 13:1 begins the second division of this book. A Doomsday Book! How significant is the sentence, "Much land to be possessed." This is true of tracts of the Bible, seldom read by ordinary Christians; of regions of experience, such as those alluded to in Colossians 3:1-4; and of countries in the world which have never been trodden by the feet of the missionary!
Read also Joshua 13:13. What pathos it contains! Either they did not believe in God's assurances, or were too indolent to claim them! [source]
Chapter Summary: Joshua 13
1The bounds of the land not yet conquered 8The inheritance of the two tribes and a half 14The Lord and his sacrifices are the inheritance of Levi 15The bounds of the inheritance of Reuben 22Balaam slain 24The bounds of the inheritance of God 29and of the half tribe of Manasseh
What do the individual words in Joshua 13:2 mean?
This [is]the landthat yet remainsallthe territoryof the Philistinesand all [that of]the Geshurite
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.