Reference: Ekron
American
The most northern city of the Philistines, allotted to Judah by Jos 15:45, but afterwards given to Da 12:13, though it does not appear that the Jews ever peaceably possessed it. It is memorable for its connection with the captivity of the ark and its restoration to the Jews, 1Sa 5:10; 6:1-18. The fly-god was worshipped here, 2Ki 1:2. Its ruin was foretold, Am 1:8; Zep 2:4; Zec 9:5,7. Robinson found its site at the Moslem village Akir, some ten miles northeast of Ashdod. There are no ruins.
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Then they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel unto us: to slay us and our people."
And so when ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the soothsayers saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us wherewith we shall send it home again." read more. They answered, "If you send the ark of the God of Israel home again, send it not empty: But reward it with a trespass offering; and then ye shall be whole, and it shall be known to you, why his hand departeth not from you." Then said they, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall reward him with?" And they answered, "Five golden arses with hemorrhoids and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For it was one manner of plague that was on you all, and on your lords too. Wherefore ye shall make images like to your arses with hemorrhoids and images like to your mice that destroyed your land, and shall give glory unto the God of Israel: that he may take his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. Wherefore should ye harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? Which for all that, when he had played his pageants with them, were fain to let the people go and depart. Now therefore make a new cart and take two milk kine, on whose neck never came yoke. And tie the kine in the cart, and bring the calves home from them. Then take the ark of the LORD and put it in the cart, and put the Jewels of gold - which ye reward him with for a trespass offering - in a forcer by the side thereof and send it away and let it go. And mark if he go up by the way that leadeth unto his own coast, to Bethshemesh, then it is he that did us this great evil. But and if he do not, then it is not his hand that smote us, but it was a chance that happened us." And the men did even so: they took two kine that gave milk and tied them in the cart, and kept the calves at home, and they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart and the forcer with the mice of gold and the images of their arses with hemorrhoids. And the kine took the straight way to Bethshemesh, both one way, and as they went, lowed, turning neither to the righthand nor to the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them until they came to the borders of Bethshemesh. And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes and spied the ark. And rejoiced when they saw it. And the cart came into the grove of one Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood still there. There was there also a great stone. And they clave the wood of the cart and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the forcer that was thereby, wherein the Jewels of gold were and put them on the great stone. And the men of Bethshemesh sacrificed burnt sacrifice and offered offerings that same day unto the LORD. And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. These are the golden arses with hemorrhoids which the Philistines gave to amends for a trespass offering to the LORD: for Ashdod one; for Gaza one; for Ashkelon one; for Gath one; and for Ekron one. And the golden mice were according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines through the five lordships: both of walled towns and of towns unwalled, even unto the great stone whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite.
And Ahaziah fell through a lattice window out of an upper chamber that he had in Samaria, and fell sick. Then he sent messengers saying unto them, "Go and enquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease."
Go thou thy way now, till it be ended: take thy rest, and bide in thy lot, till the days have an end."
I will root out them that dwell at Ashdod, and him that holdeth the scepter of Ashkelon, and stretch out mine hand over Ekron, that the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,' sayeth the LORD.
For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ashkelon shall be laid waste. They shall cast out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be plucked up by the roots.
This shall Ashkelon see, and be afraid. Gaza shall be very sorry, so shall Ekron also, because her hope is come of confusion. For the king of Gaza shall perish; and at Ashkelon shall no man dwell.
Their blood will I take away from their mouth, and their abominations from among their teeth; Thus they shall be left for our God, yea they shall be as a prince in Judah, and Ekron like as Jebusi.
Easton
firm-rooted, the most northerly of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, about 11 miles north of Gath. It was assigned to Judah (Jos 13:3), and afterwards to Dan (Jos 19:43), but came again into the full possession of the Philistines (1Sa 5:10). It was the last place to which the Philistines carried the ark before they sent it back to Israel (1Sa 5:10; 6:1-8). There was here a noted sanctuary of Baal-zebub (2Ki 1:2-3,6,16). Now the small village Akir. It is mentioned on monuments in B.C. 702, when Sennacherib set free its king, imprisoned by Hezekiah in Jerusalem, according to the Assyrian record.
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from Shihor in Egypt unto the borders of Ekron northward, which land was counted to pertain unto the Cananites, even to the five lords of the Philistines: the Gazathites, Ashdothites, Eshkalonites, Gittites, Ekronites, with the Avites,
Then they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel unto us: to slay us and our people."
Then they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel unto us: to slay us and our people."
And so when ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the soothsayers saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us wherewith we shall send it home again." read more. They answered, "If you send the ark of the God of Israel home again, send it not empty: But reward it with a trespass offering; and then ye shall be whole, and it shall be known to you, why his hand departeth not from you." Then said they, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall reward him with?" And they answered, "Five golden arses with hemorrhoids and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For it was one manner of plague that was on you all, and on your lords too. Wherefore ye shall make images like to your arses with hemorrhoids and images like to your mice that destroyed your land, and shall give glory unto the God of Israel: that he may take his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. Wherefore should ye harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? Which for all that, when he had played his pageants with them, were fain to let the people go and depart. Now therefore make a new cart and take two milk kine, on whose neck never came yoke. And tie the kine in the cart, and bring the calves home from them. Then take the ark of the LORD and put it in the cart, and put the Jewels of gold - which ye reward him with for a trespass offering - in a forcer by the side thereof and send it away and let it go.
And Ahaziah fell through a lattice window out of an upper chamber that he had in Samaria, and fell sick. Then he sent messengers saying unto them, "Go and enquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease." But the Angel of the LORD spake to Elijah the Tishbite, "Up, and go against the messengers of the king of Samaria and say unto them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to ask through Beelzebub the god of Ekron?
And they said unto him, "There came a man against us and said unto us, 'Go and turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD. Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire through Beelzebub the god of Ekron? Therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.'"
And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Forasmuch as thou sentest messengers to ask through Beelzebub the god of Ekron - as though there had been no God in Israel to ask through his word - therefore thou shalt not come off the bed on which thou art ascended, but shalt surely die.'"
Fausets
("the firm rooted".) Most northerly of the five Philistine lordship cities, farthest from the sea, to the right of the great road from Egypt northwards to Syria, in the shephelah (low country). A landmark of Judah on the northern boundary which ran thence to the sea at Jabneel (Jos 15:45-46; Jg 1:18). Afterward in Dan (Jos 19:43); but the Philistines permanently appropriated it (1Sa 5:10; 17:52; Jer 25:20). There the ark of the covenant was taken last before its return to Israel.
A shrine and oracle of Baalzebub was there, to which king Ahaziah applied for consultation in his sickness (2Ki 1:2,16). Zec 9:5, "Ekron for her expectation shall be ashamed": she had expected Tyre would withstand Alexander in his progress southward toward Egypt; but her expectation shall bear the shame of disappointment. Zep 2:4 plays on her name, 'Ekron tee'akeer," the firm-rooted one shall be rooted up." Now Akir, 3 miles E. of Yebna, N. of the wady Surar; a village consisting of 50 mud houses, with two well-built wells, is all that remains of the once leading Philistine city, fulfilling the prophecy that she should be rooted up.
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Ekron with their towns and villages. And from Ekron out to the sea, all that lieth about Ashdod with their villages.
And Judah took Gaza with the coasts thereof, and Ashkelon with the coasts thereof, and Ekron with the coasts thereof.
Then they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel unto us: to slay us and our people."
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted and followed after the Philistines, until they came to the valley and unto the gates of Ekron. And the Philistines fell down dead by the way, even unto Gath and Ekron.
And Ahaziah fell through a lattice window out of an upper chamber that he had in Samaria, and fell sick. Then he sent messengers saying unto them, "Go and enquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease."
And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Forasmuch as thou sentest messengers to ask through Beelzebub the god of Ekron - as though there had been no God in Israel to ask through his word - therefore thou shalt not come off the bed on which thou art ascended, but shalt surely die.'"
and all kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistine's land - Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod -
For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ashkelon shall be laid waste. They shall cast out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be plucked up by the roots.
This shall Ashkelon see, and be afraid. Gaza shall be very sorry, so shall Ekron also, because her hope is come of confusion. For the king of Gaza shall perish; and at Ashkelon shall no man dwell.
Hastings
A city in the Philistine Pentapolis, not conquered by Joshua (Jos 13:3), but theoretically a border city of Judah (Jos 15:11) and Dan (Jos 19:43); said, in a passage which is probably an interpolation, to have been smitten by Judah (Jg 1:18). Hither the captured ark was brought from Ashdod (1Sa 5:10), and on its restoration the Philistine lords who had followed it to Beth-shemesh returned to Ekron (1Sa 6:16). Ekron was the border town of a territory that passed in the days of Samuel from the Philistines to Israel (1Sa 7:14), and it was the limit of the pursuit of the Philistines after the slaying of Goliath by David (1Sa 17:52). Its local numen was Baal-zebub, whose oracle Ahaziah consulted after his accident (2Ki 1:2). Like the other Philistine cities, it is made the subject of denunciation by Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, and the anonymous prophet whose writing occupies Zec 9; 10; 11. This city is commonly identified with 'Akir, a village on the Philistine plain between Gezer and the sea, where there is now a Jewish colony. For the identification there is no basis, except the coincidence of name; there are no remains of antiquity whatever at 'Akir.
R. A. S. Macalister.
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from Shihor in Egypt unto the borders of Ekron northward, which land was counted to pertain unto the Cananites, even to the five lords of the Philistines: the Gazathites, Ashdothites, Eshkalonites, Gittites, Ekronites, with the Avites,
and goeth out on the side of Ekron northward; And then draweth to Shikkeron and goeth along to mount Baalah, and goeth out at Jabneel; and the end of the coasts is the sea.
And Judah took Gaza with the coasts thereof, and Ashkelon with the coasts thereof, and Ekron with the coasts thereof.
Then they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel unto us: to slay us and our people."
And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
Thereto, the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel came again to Israel, even from Ekron to Gath, with the coasts of the same, which Israel plucked out of the hands of the Philistines. For there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted and followed after the Philistines, until they came to the valley and unto the gates of Ekron. And the Philistines fell down dead by the way, even unto Gath and Ekron.
And Ahaziah fell through a lattice window out of an upper chamber that he had in Samaria, and fell sick. Then he sent messengers saying unto them, "Go and enquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease."
Morish
Ek'ron
The most northerly of the five cities of the Philistines. It fell to the lot of Judah, and then passed to Dan. It was taken by Judah, but the Philistines kept or gained possession. The ark of God was carried there from Ashdod, and from thence was returned to Israel. It was to Ekron that king Ahaziah sent to inquire of the god Baal-zebub if he should recover from his accident. 2Ki 1:2-3,16. The city is denounced in the prophets. Jos 15:11,45-46; 19:43; Jg 1:18; 1Sa 5:10; 6:16-17; 7:14; 17:52; Jer 25:20; Am 1:8; Zep 2:4; Zec 9:5,7. Identified with Akir, 31 52' N, 34 49' E.
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and goeth out on the side of Ekron northward; And then draweth to Shikkeron and goeth along to mount Baalah, and goeth out at Jabneel; and the end of the coasts is the sea.
Ekron with their towns and villages. And from Ekron out to the sea, all that lieth about Ashdod with their villages.
And Judah took Gaza with the coasts thereof, and Ashkelon with the coasts thereof, and Ekron with the coasts thereof.
And Ahaziah fell through a lattice window out of an upper chamber that he had in Samaria, and fell sick. Then he sent messengers saying unto them, "Go and enquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease." But the Angel of the LORD spake to Elijah the Tishbite, "Up, and go against the messengers of the king of Samaria and say unto them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to ask through Beelzebub the god of Ekron?
And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Forasmuch as thou sentest messengers to ask through Beelzebub the god of Ekron - as though there had been no God in Israel to ask through his word - therefore thou shalt not come off the bed on which thou art ascended, but shalt surely die.'"
and all kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistine's land - Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod -
I will root out them that dwell at Ashdod, and him that holdeth the scepter of Ashkelon, and stretch out mine hand over Ekron, that the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,' sayeth the LORD.
For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ashkelon shall be laid waste. They shall cast out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be plucked up by the roots.
This shall Ashkelon see, and be afraid. Gaza shall be very sorry, so shall Ekron also, because her hope is come of confusion. For the king of Gaza shall perish; and at Ashkelon shall no man dwell.
Their blood will I take away from their mouth, and their abominations from among their teeth; Thus they shall be left for our God, yea they shall be as a prince in Judah, and Ekron like as Jebusi.
Smith
Ek'ron
(torn up by the roots; emigration), one of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, and the most northerly of the five.
Like the other Philistine cities its situation was in the lowlands. It fell to the lot of Judah.
Afterwards we find it mentioned among the cities of Dan.
Before the monarchy it was again in full possession of the Philistines.
Akir, the modern representative of Ekron, lies about five miles southwest of Ramleh. In the Apocrypha it appears as ACCARON. 1Macc 10:89 only.
See Accaron
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from Shihor in Egypt unto the borders of Ekron northward, which land was counted to pertain unto the Cananites, even to the five lords of the Philistines: the Gazathites, Ashdothites, Eshkalonites, Gittites, Ekronites, with the Avites,
Ekron with their towns and villages. And from Ekron out to the sea, all that lieth about Ashdod with their villages.
And Judah took Gaza with the coasts thereof, and Ashkelon with the coasts thereof, and Ekron with the coasts thereof.
Then they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel unto us: to slay us and our people."