Gaza: Called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name
(Deuteronomy 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24)
(Jeremiah 25:20) strong, a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable
for its early importance as the chief centre of a great commercial
traffic with Egypt. It is one of the oldest cities of the world
(Genesis 10:19; Joshua 15:47) Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who
were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims
(Deuteronomy 2:23; Joshua 13:2,3)
a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of
Judah
(Joshua 15:47; Judges 1:18) It was the southernmost of the five
great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a
trespass-offering unto the Lord
(1 Samuel 6:17) Its gates were carried
away by Samson
(Judges 16:1-3) Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and
"did grind in the prison house." Here he also pulled down the temple
of Dagon, and slew "all the lords of the Philistines," himself also
perishing in the ruin
(Judges 16:21-30) The prophets denounce the
judgments of God against it
(Jeremiah 25:20; 47:5; Amos 1:6,7; Zephaniah 2:4) It is
referred to in
(Acts 8:26) Philip is here told to take the road from
Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles south-west of Jerusalem), "which is
desert", i.e., the "desert road," probably by Hebron, through the
desert hills of Southern Judea.
(See SAMSON)
It is noticed on monuments as early as B.C. 1600 Its small port is
now called el-Mineh.
