Ashdod is one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, located in the coastal region of ancient Canaan. It is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a significant Philistine stronghold. The city is first noted in the context of the Ark of the Covenant, which was captured by the Philistines and brought to Ashdod, where it was placed in the temple of their god Dagon. The presence of the Ark caused great turmoil, as described in 1 Samuel 5:1-7 : "When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried it into the temple of Dagon and set it beside his statue. When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD."

Ashdod was later conquered by the Assyrian king Sargon II in 711 BC and became an Assyrian province. The city is also mentioned in the context of the return from the Babylonian exile, where intermarriage with the people of Ashdod was a concern for Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:23-24).

Gaza

Gaza is another of the five major Philistine cities, located in the southwestern part of Canaan near the Mediterranean coast. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is frequently mentioned in the Bible. In the Book of Judges, Gaza is the site of one of Samson's most famous exploits. After being betrayed by Delilah, Samson was captured by the Philistines and brought to Gaza, where he was imprisoned. In Judges 16:21-30 , Samson's final act of strength occurs in Gaza: "Then Samson called out to the LORD, 'O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, so that with one act of vengeance I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.'"

Gaza was later conquered by the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. In the New Testament, Gaza is mentioned in the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40, where Philip is directed by an angel to go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

Ashkelon

Ashkelon is one of the five Philistine cities, located on the Mediterranean coast. It is known for its strategic and commercial significance in ancient times. The city is mentioned in the context of the Philistine territory in Joshua 13:3 : "from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite; the five rulers of the Philistines in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron."

Ashkelon was a center of trade and culture, and its history is marked by various conquests, including those by the Egyptians and Babylonians. The prophet Zephaniah prophesied against Ashkelon, foretelling its desolation (Zephaniah 2:4-7). The city was later rebuilt and continued to be an important site throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Gath

Gath is one of the five Philistine cities, often associated with the biblical figure Goliath, who is described as a giant from Gath in 1 Samuel 17:4 : "Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height." Gath was a significant Philistine city, known for its military strength and strategic location.

The city is mentioned in the context of David's interactions with the Philistines. After fleeing from King Saul, David sought refuge in Gath with King Achish (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Gath was later conquered by King David, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 18:1 : "In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines."

Ekron

Ekron is one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, located inland from the Mediterranean coast. It is mentioned in the context of the Philistine territory in Joshua 13:3 and is known for its association with the Philistine god Baal-Zebub. In 2 Kings 1:2-3 , King Ahaziah of Israel sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, after injuring himself: "Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, 'Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.' But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, 'Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?"'"

Ekron was later conquered by the Assyrians and became part of their empire. The city is also mentioned in the context of the return of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines, as they sent it back to Israel after experiencing plagues (1 Samuel 5:10).