What do the Sea of the Philistines and the desert refer to in Exodus 23:31?
In Exodus 23:31, the Sea of the Philistines refers to the Mediterranean Sea, while the desert refers to the Judean desert. These geographic markers describe Israel's promised boundaries, extending from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and from the desert to the Euphrates River.
Les explains that verse 31 returns to the promise given to Abraham concerning how much Israel would inherit. The boundary is set from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, which is the Mediterranean, and from the desert, which he identifies as the Judean desert, to the river. When Scripture says "the river," Les says that means the Euphrates. This whole Middle East area had been promised to the nation of Israel, and God would deliver the inhabitants into their hand.
And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.