Gaza

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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.
 
 
Gaza Ruins