Gaza
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The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament 5804. עַזָּה ʿazzāh
an important city in southwest Israel. It was near the coast and at the dividing line between Canaan and the area of the Sinai Desert. The Philistines controlled it most of the time even though it was allotted to Judah (Josh. 10:41; 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was often under the influence of Egypt or the current ruling power of Canaan since it was situated at several major trade routes.
It was initially inhabited by the Avvites, a people who preceded the Philistines (Gen. 10:19; Deut. 2:23), as well as the Anakites (Josh. 11:22). Samson visited the city and removed the doors of the city gate (Judg. 16:1–3) but was later taken there as a captive. He avenged himself on the Philistines who ruled the city (Judg. 16:21–31). The grain god Dagon was worshiped there. Later, it became part of the five-city coalition of Philistine cities (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron). It was the recognized southern extent of Philistine influence and power (2 Kgs. 18:8). The prophets spoke of God’s judgment on the city often (Jer. 25:20; 47:1, 5; Amos 1:6, 7; Zeph. 2:4; Zech. 9:5).
Ashdod 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:
Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
5804. עַזָּה ʿazzāh: A proper noun designating Gaza,
Baker, W. and Carpenter, E.E. (2003) The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
עַזָּה ʿazzāh: A proper noun designating Gaza,an important city in southwest Israel. It was near the coast and at the dividing line between Canaan and the area of the Sinai Desert.
The Philistines controlled it most of the time even though it was allotted to Judah (Josh. 10:41; 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was often under the influence of Egypt or the current ruling power of Canaan since it was situated at several major trade routes.
It was initially inhabited by the Avvites, a people who preceded the Philistines (Gen. 10:19; Deut. 2:23), as well as the Anakites (Josh. 11:22). Samson visited the city and removed the doors of the city gate (Judg. 16:1–3) but was later taken there as a captive. He avenged himself on the Philistines who ruled the city (Judg. 16:21–31). The grain god Dagon was worshiped there.
Later, it became part of the five-city coalition of Philistine cities (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron). It was the recognized southern extent of Philistine influence and power (2 Kgs. 18:8). The prophets spoke of God’s judgment on the city often (Jer. 25:20; 47:1, 5; Amos 1:6, 7; Zeph. 2:4; Zech. 9:5).1
1 Baker, W. and Carpenter, E.E. (2003) The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.