Azzah, Gaza

“Gaza” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(strong). Hebrew Azzah, now Ghuzzeh. A city of Philistia (Gen. 10:19¹⁹And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. (Genesis 10:19)); assigned to Judah (Josh. 10:41; 15:47⁴¹And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. (Joshua 10:41)
⁴⁷Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: (Joshua 15:47); Judg. 1:18¹⁸Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. (Judges 1:18)); scene of Samson’s exploits (Judg. 16; 1 Kings 4:24²⁴For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. (1 Kings 4:24); Acts 8:26²⁶And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (Acts 8:26)).

“Azzah” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(strong). For GAZA (Deut. 2:23²³And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.) (Deuteronomy 2:23); 1 Kings 4:24²⁴For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. (1 Kings 4:24); Jer. 25:20²⁰And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod, (Jeremiah 25:20)).

“Gaza” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

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1. One of the five royal cities of the Philistines. We read of it as early as Genesis 10:19¹⁹And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. (Genesis 10:19) as a border of the Canaanites. The Anakim dwelt there, but Judah was able to take Gaza and the coasts thereof (Josh. 11:22²²There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. (Joshua 11:22); Judg. 1:18¹⁸Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. (Judges 1:18)). In the time of Samson, however, the Philistines were in possession, and he was made a prisoner there (Judg. 16:21²¹But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. (Judges 16:21)). It was held afterward by Solomon, 1 Kings 4:24²⁴For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. (1 Kings 4:24) (where it is called AZZAH, as it is also in Deut. 2:23²³And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.) (Deuteronomy 2:23) and Jer. 25:20²⁰And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod, (Jeremiah 25:20)); but had to be taken again by Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8⁸He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. (2 Kings 18:8)). It was afterward smitten by Pharaoh (Jer. 47:1,5¹The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. (Jeremiah 47:1)
⁵Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? (Jeremiah 47:5)). Having been a stronghold of the Philistines, woes were pronounced against it by the prophets (Amos 1:6-7⁶Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: ⁷But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: (Amos 1:6‑7); Zeph. 2:4⁴For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. (Zephaniah 2:4); Zech. 9:5⁵Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. (Zechariah 9:5)).

Gaza was the S.W. frontier town of Palestine, and did a large trade with the caravans to and from Egypt. It was taken by Cambyses, the Ptolemies, and by Alexander the Great, and was held in the twelfth century by the Knights Templars. It now forms the capital of the Turkish province. It is still a large though straggling town without walls, about two miles from the sea, though in some of the ancient documents it is called a maritime city. It is now called Ghuzzeh or Gaza, 31° 30' N, 34° 28' E. Acts 8:26²⁶And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (Acts 8:26) signifies that the way from Jerusalem to Gaza was desert. This is supposed to refer to the road through Hebron, for after leaving that city it is comparatively desert.

2. City of Ephraim (1 Chron. 7:28²⁸And their possessions and habitations were, Beth-el and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof: (1 Chronicles 7:28)); but here many MSS read Ayyah.

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Gaza Ruins

“Azzah” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

See GAZA.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

5804 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

`Azzah

Phonic:

az-zaw’

Meaning:

feminine of 5794; strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine

KJV Usage:

Azzah, Gaza

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

she was strong

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

Whole; complete; strong:―town in the S. W. of Palestine [AZZAH], Gen. 10:19. {Valida}