Since most of the nations around Israel were polytheistic, they assumed that there were many gods. The Philistines had heard about what the Lord did to free his people from Egypt.1 They knew that the Lord is powerful and they were frightened that he would now act and fight on behalf of Israel.
8 Malheur à nous! Qui nous délivrera de la main de ces dieux puissants? Ce sont ces dieux qui ont frappé les Egyptiens de toutes sortes de plaies dans le désert.