Lexical Summary Ashdodi: Ashdodite Original Word: אַשְׁדּוֹדִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ashdodites, of Ashdod Patrial from 'Ashdowd; an Ashdodite (often collectively) or inhabitant of Asdod -- Ashdodites, of Ashdod. see HEBREW 'Ashdowd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Ashdod Definition an inhab. of Ashdod NASB Translation Ashdod (1), Ashdodite (1), Ashdodites (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַשְׁדּוֺדִי adjective, of a people Ashdodite, ׳הָא singular collective noun Joshua 13:3; usually plural (הָ)אַשְׁדּוֺדִים 1 Samuel 5:3,6; Nehemiah 4:1, and as feminine adjective נָשִׁים אשׁדודיות Nehemiah 13:23 Kt (Qr אַשְׁדֳּדִיּוֺת). Topical Lexicon Geographic and Cultural SettingAshdod stood on the southern coastal plain of Canaan, roughly midway between Gaza and Joppa. As one of the five chief cities of Philistia, it controlled a key trade route linking Egypt with the northern Levant. The “Ashdodite” therefore represents both a geographic identity and a cultural allegiance to Philistine religion, politics, and military power. Its strategic port and fertile hinterland made Ashdod wealthy and influential, but also a persistent antagonist to Israel. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Boundary marker of unconquered territory (Joshua 13:3). After Joshua’s conquests, Ashdod remained Philistine, a reminder that Israel’s occupation of the land was incomplete and that obedience would be required to secure the full inheritance promised to Abraham. Historical Trajectory • Bronze and Iron Ages: Egyptian records name Ashdod long before Israel’s Exodus. By the early Iron Age it was fortified, boasting a renowned temple of Dagon and a formidable army (cf. Assyrian annals). • Assyrian and Babylonian periods: Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II besieged Ashdod; yet the city remained prominent and, in Hellenistic times, re-emerged as Azotus. • Post-exilic era: Despite imperial changes, Ashdod survived to contest Judah’s reform efforts under Nehemiah, illustrating how entrenched spiritual strongholds can outlive political upheavals. Theological Themes 1. Divine Supremacy over Idolatry The toppling of Dagon dramatizes Psalm 96:5: “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.” The Ashdodite narrative thus magnifies the exclusivity of Yahweh. 2. Judgment and Mercy Tumors in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:6) prefigure universal accountability. Yet the same Ark that brought judgment later blessed Obed-Edom in Judah, revealing that proximity to God’s presence brings either blessing or curse depending on covenant relationship. 3. Separation and Holiness Nehemiah’s reaction to Ashdodite intermarriage illustrates the principle that God’s people must remain distinct for redemptive purposes (Exodus 19:5-6; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 4. Spiritual Warfare Across Generations From Joshua to Nehemiah, the Ashdodite stands as a persistent adversary, reminding believers that unfinished spiritual battles can resurface if not fully addressed in obedience and faith. Ministry Applications • Guarding Spiritual Boundaries Just as Israel failed to expel Ashdodites fully, modern believers must be vigilant against lingering strongholds of sin or worldliness that erode holiness over time. • Confidence in God’s Power The fall of Dagon encourages trust that cultural idols, however formidable, cannot withstand the presence of the living God. Gospel proclamation should therefore be fearless in hostile environments. • Commitment to Covenant Community Nehemiah’s concern for linguistic and cultural purity points pastors and parents to cultivate scriptural literacy and godly identity in the next generation, ensuring they “speak the language of Judah”—the vocabulary of faith. • Intercessory Engagement with the Nations While Ashdodites opposed Israel, Jonah’s later mission to Nineveh and the Great Commission reveal God’s heart for all peoples. The Ashdodite account warns against compromise yet simultaneously propels the church to pray for and evangelize modern counterparts of historical antagonists. Messianic and Eschatological Glimpses Zechariah foretold that Philistine cities would be transformed: “He will remove the blood from their mouths…then they too will become a remnant for our God” (Zechariah 9:7). The subjugation of Ashdod’s idol anticipates the day when every knee will bow to Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10-11), turning former foes into worshipers. Summary The Ashdodite embodies the enduring clash between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. Through boundary disputes, idolatrous confrontation, political opposition, and social assimilation, Scripture uses Ashdod to highlight God’s unwavering holiness, covenant faithfulness, and ultimate triumph. For the church, the term calls believers to decisive obedience, courageous mission, and unshakeable hope in the Lord who “is King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:7). Forms and Transliterations אַשְׁדּוֹדִים֙ אַשְׁדֳּדִיֹּ֔ות אשדדיות אשדודים הָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֖ים האשדודים וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗ים וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִי֙ והאשדודי והאשדודים ’aš·do·ḏî·yō·wṯ ’aš·dō·w·ḏîm ’ašdoḏîyōwṯ ’ašdōwḏîm ashdoDim ashdodiYot hā’ašdōwḏîm hā·’aš·dō·w·ḏîm haashdoDim vehaashdoDi vehaashdoDim wə·hā·’aš·dō·w·ḏî wə·hā·’aš·dō·w·ḏîm wəhā’ašdōwḏî wəhā’ašdōwḏîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 13:3 HEB: פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים הָעַזָּתִ֤י וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִי֙ הָאֶשְׁקְלוֹנִ֣י הַגִּתִּ֔י NAS: the Gazite, the Ashdodite, the Ashkelonite, KJV: the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, INT: of the Philistines the Gazite the Ashdodite the Ashkelonite the Gittite 1 Samuel 5:3 1 Samuel 5:6 Nehemiah 4:7 Nehemiah 13:23 5 Occurrences |
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