Reference: GAZA OR AZZAH
American
Now Ghuzzeh, an ancient city in the southwest corner of Canaan, Ge 10:19, belonging to the Avim, De 2:23, and afterwards to the Philistines. Joshua assigned it to the tribe of Judah, but did not conquer it, Jos 10:41; 11:21-22; 13:3; 15:47. Judah seems to have held possession of it for a while; but in the time of the judges it was independent, and one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, Jg 1:18; 3:3; 13:1; 16. Samson carried away its gates, and afterwards perished under the ruins of its vast temple. The ark of God was there in the days of Eli, 1Sa 6. It yielded allegiance to David and Solomon, recovered its liberty in the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz, but was reconquered by Hezekiah, 2Ki 18:8. At subsequent periods it was occupied by Chaldeans, Persians, and Egyptians, Jer 47:1. About 96 B. C. the Jewish king Alexander Jannaeus captured and destroyed it. The Roman general Gabinius rebuilt it; and not long after the ascension of the Savior, a Christian church was planted there to struggle with the prevailing idolatry. In A. D. 634 it came under the Mohammedan yoke; and in the era of the Crusades had fallen into ruins. It was partially rebuilt and fortified, and is now a city of some 15,000 inhabitants. The few remains of the old city cover a large but low hill, two or three miles from the sea, once so strongly fortified as to withstand Alexander the Great for five months. The modern city lies more in the plain, which is exceedingly fertile, and abounds in gardens, date-trees, and olive-trees. There was a landing-place and "port" for ancient Gaza, but no harbor worthy of the name. It was often referred to by the prophets, Jer 25:20; 47:5; Am 1:6-7; Zep 2:4; Zec 9:5. The southern route form Jerusalem to Gaza, memorable in the history of the Ethiopian eunuch, is called "desert" in Ac 8:26, as passing through a region then destitute of villages.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the coasts of the Canaanites were from Sidon till thou come to Gerar and to Gaza, and till thou come to Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, Zeboiim: even unto Lasha.
And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim even unto Gaza, the Caphthorims which came out of Caphthor destroyed them and dwelt in their rooms.
And Joshua smote them from Kadesh Barnea, unto Gaza, and all the coasts of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
And that same season, Joshua went and destroyed the Anakims out of the mountains, and out of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and out of all the mountains of Judah, and out of all the mountains of Israel. And Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities, so that there was not one Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod, there remained of them.
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,
Ashdod with her towns and villages. Gaza with her towns and villages, even unto the river of Egypt: and the great sea with the coasts that lie thereon.
And Judah took Gaza with the coasts thereof, and Ashkelon with the coasts thereof, and Ekron with the coasts thereof.
he left the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Cananites, the Sidonians, the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon: even from mount Baalhermon unto Hamath.
And the children of Israel began again to commit wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.
He beat the Philistines even unto Gaza and the coasts thereof, both in castles of garrisons and strong cities too.
and all kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistine's land - Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod -
These are the words that the LORD spake unto Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote the city of Gaza.
Baldness is come upon Gaza. Ashkelon with her other valleys shall keep her peace. How long wilt thou slay,
Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Gaza, I will not spare her: because they make the prisoners yet more captive, and have driven them into the land of Edom. Therefore will I send a fire in to the walls of Gaza, which shall devour her houses.
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.
Then the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, "Arise and go towards midday unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is in the desert."