"The Philistines" is a novel by Arlo Bates, an American author, educator, and newspaperman, who often used biblical terms as titles for his novels to underline the moral aspect of his works. The "Philistines" is a societal drama set in 19th-century America. Yet, the issues reflected in the novel are ever-topical, whether the events take place in the times of Christ, in the New World, or today.