The Caphtorites were descendants of Noah's son Ham and originally came from Crete. This is a large island south of the Greek peninsula. Scholars usually identify the Caphtorites with the Philistines (see Genesis 10:6–14; 1 Chronicles 1:8–12). The Philistines arrived in Canaan through two separate movements.
One movement happened during the time of the Hebrew patriarchs (see study note on Genesis 21:32). The other movement began around 1200 BC (see study notes on Joshua 13:2; Judges 3:3). This passage probably refers to the earlier settlement.
The Avvites were native to the lower Mediterranean coastal plain. The early wave of Philistines replaced them in Gaza (compare Joshua 13:2–4).