Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge ... to destroy it for the old hatred - (1 Samuel 13:17; 1 Samuel 14:1-52; 2 Chronicles 28:18, in Ahaz' reign, "The Philistines ... had invaded the cities ... of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon," etc.) The "old hatred" refers to their continual enmity to the covenant-people. They lay along Judea on the sea coast, at the opposite side from Ammon and Moab. They were overthrown by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6), and by Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8). Nebuchadnezzar overran the cities on the sea coast on his way to Egypt, after besieging Tyre, (Jeremiah 47:1-7) God will take vengeance on those who take the avenging of themselves out of His hands into their own (Romans 12:19-21; James 2:13).