Geographical and Historical Context:
Gaza is one of the five major cities of the Philistines, located in the southwestern part of ancient Canaan, near the Mediterranean coast. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, with a history that dates back to ancient times. In the Bible, Gaza is frequently mentioned in the context of the Philistine territory, which was a constant adversary to the Israelites.

Biblical References:
Gaza is first mentioned in the context of the conquests of Joshua. In Joshua 10:41 , it is noted that Joshua conquered the land "from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and all the land of Goshen as far as Gibeon." This indicates the extent of the territory that came under Israelite control during the initial conquests of the Promised Land.

The city is perhaps most famously associated with the account of Samson, a judge of Israel. In Judges 16, Samson visits Gaza, where he encounters a prostitute and later demonstrates his immense strength by tearing off the city gates and carrying them to the top of a hill (Judges 16:1-3). This act of defiance against the Philistines highlights the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Philistine cities.

Gaza is also the site of Samson's final act. After being captured and blinded by the Philistines, Samson is brought to Gaza, where he is made to entertain them in the temple of Dagon. In a final act of strength, Samson pulls down the temple, killing himself and many Philistines (Judges 16:21-30).

Prophetic Significance:
The prophets also mention Gaza in their oracles against the nations. In Amos 1:6-7 , the Lord pronounces judgment on Gaza for its transgressions, specifically for taking entire communities captive and selling them to Edom. Similarly, Zephaniah 2:4 prophesies that "Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon left in ruins," indicating divine judgment against the Philistine cities.

New Testament Reference:
In the New Testament, Gaza is mentioned in the account of Philip the Evangelist. In Acts 8:26 , an angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza. It is on this road that Philip encounters the Ethiopian eunuch, leading to the eunuch's conversion and baptism.

Cultural and Theological Insights:
Gaza's role in the biblical narrative underscores the tension between the Israelites and the Philistines, serving as a backdrop for accounts of conflict, divine judgment, and redemption. The city's repeated mention in prophetic literature highlights the theme of God's sovereignty over the nations and His judgment against those who oppose His people.

Throughout the biblical text, Gaza represents both a physical and spiritual battleground, illustrating the broader struggle between the forces of God and those who resist His will. The accounts associated with Gaza, particularly those of Samson, serve as powerful reminders of God's strength and the ultimate triumph of His purposes, even through flawed human instruments.Gaza

strong; a goat

Gaza

(the fortified; the strong) (properly Azzah), one of the five chief cities of the Philistines. It is remarkable for its continuous existence and importance from the very earliest times. The secret of this unbroken history is to be found in the situation of Gaza. It is the last town in the southwest of Palestine, on the frontier towards Egypt. The same peculiarity of situation has made Gaza important in a military sense. Its name means "the strong;" and this was well elucidated in its siege by Alexander the Great, which lasted five months. In the conquest of Joshua the territory of Gaza is mentioned as one which he was not able to subdue. (Joshua 10:41; 11:22; 13:3) It was assigned to the tribe of Judah, (Joshua 15:47) and that tribe did obtain possession of it, (Judges 1:18) but did not hold it long, (Judges 3:3; 13:1) and apparently it continued through the time of Samuel, Saul and David to be a Philistine city. 1Sam 6:17; 14:52; 31:1; 2Sam 21:15 Solomon became master of "Azzah," (1 Kings 4:24) but in after times the same trouble with the Philistines recurred. (2 Chronicles 21:16; 26:6; 28:18) The passage where Gaza is mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 8:26) is full of interest. It is the account of the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch on his return from Jerusalem to Egypt. Gaza is the modern Ghuzzeh , a Mohammedan town of about 16,000 inhabitants, situated partly on an oblong hill of moderate height and partly on the lower ground. The climate of the place is almost tropical, but it has deep wells of excellent water. There are a few palm trees in the town, and its fruit orchards are very productive; but the chief feature of the neighborhood is the wide-spread olive grove to the north and northeast

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.

GAZA

ga'-za (`azzah, "strong"; Septuagint Gaza; Arabic Ghazzeh):

One of the five chief towns of Philistia and probably the oldest, situated near the coast in lat. 31 degrees 30' and about 40 miles South of Jaffa. It is on a hill rising 60 to 200 ft. above the plain, with sand dunes between it and the sea, which is about 2 1/2 miles distant. The plain around is fertile and wells abound, and, being on the border of the desert between Syria and Egypt and lying in the track of caravans and armies passing from one to the other, it was in ancient times a place of importance. The earliest notices of it are found in the records of Egypt.

Thothmes III refers to it in the account of his expedition to Syria in 1479 B.C., and it occurs again in the records of the expedition of Seti I in 1313 B.C. (Breasted, History of Egypt, 285, 409).

It occurs also in the early catalogue of cities and tribes inhabiting Canaan in the earliest times (Genesis 10:19). Joshua reached it in his conquests but did not take it (Joshua 10:41; Joshua 11:22).

Judah captured it (Judges 1:18) but did not hold it long, for we find it in the hands of the Philistines in the days of Samson, whose exploits have rendered it noteworthy (16:1-3, 11, 30). The hill to which he carried off the gate of the city was probably the one now called el-Muntar ("watch-tower"), which lies Southeast of the city and may be referred to in 2 Kings 18:8, "from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city," Gaza, with the other chief towns, sent a trespass offering to Yahweh when the ark was returned (1 Samuel 6:17).

Hezekiah defeated and pursued the Philistines to Gaza, but does not seem to have captured it. It was taken by Sargon in 720 B.C., in his war with Egypt, since Khanun, the king of Gaza, joined the Egyptians and was captured at the battle of Raphia (Rawlinson, Ancient Monarchies, II, 142). It was probably destroyed (see Amos 1:7). It was certainly dismantled by Alexander the Great in 332, when it dared to resist him. It was then exceedingly strong, verifying its name, and was most bravely defended, so that it took Alexander two months to reduce it. He put to death all the men and sold the women and children as slaves (Grote, History of Greece, XI, 467). It was restored, however, and we learn that Jonathan forced it to submit to him (Josephus, Ant, XIII, v, 5; 1 Maccabees 11:62), and Alexander Janneus took it and massacred the inhabitants who escaped the horrors of the siege (Josephus, Ant, XIII, xiii, 3). Pompey restored the freedom of Gaza (ibid., XIV, iv, 4), and Gabinius rebuilt it in 57 B.C. (ibid., XIV, v, 3).

Gaza is mentioned only once in the New Testament (Acts 8:26), in the account of Philip and the eunuch. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., it became a center of Greek commerce and culture, and pagan influence was strong, while the church rounded there was struggling for existence. Many martyrs there testified to the faith, until finally, under Theodosius, Christianity gained the supremacy (HGHL, 12th edition, 188). It fell into the hands of the Arabs in 634 A.D., and became and has remained a Moslem city since the days of Saladin, who recovered it from the Crusaders in 1187, after the battle of Hattin. It is now a city of some 20,000 inhabitants, among whom are a few hundred Christians.

See also AZZAH.

H. Porter

1048. Gaza -- Gaza, a Philistine city
... 1047, 1048. Gaza. 1049 . Gaza, a Philistine city. Part of Speech: Noun,
Feminine Transliteration: Gaza Phonetic Spelling: (gad'-zah ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1048.htm - 6k

1047. gaza -- treasure
... 1046, 1047. gaza. 1048 . ... treasure. Of foreign origin; a treasure -- treasure.
(gazes) -- 1 Occurrence. 1046, 1047. gaza. 1048 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1047.htm - 6k

1049. gazophulakion -- treasury
... Word Origin from gaza and phulake Definition treasury NASB Word Usage treasury
(5). treasury. ... see GREEK gaza. see GREEK phulake. (gazophulakion) -- 3 Occurrences ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1049.htm - 6k

1642. Gerar -- a place South of Gaza
... 1641, 1642. Gerar. 1643 . a place South of Gaza. Transliteration: Gerar
Phonetic Spelling: (gher-awr') Short Definition: Gerar. ...
/hebrew/1642.htm - 6k

5841. Azzathi -- inhab. of Gaza
... inhab. of Gaza. Transliteration: Azzathi Phonetic Spelling: (az-zaw-thee') Short
Definition: Gazite. ... of Gaza NASB Word Usage Gazite (1), Gazites (1). ...
/hebrew/5841.htm - 6k

5804. Azzah -- a Philistine city
... Azzah, Gaza Feminine of az; strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine -- Azzah, Gaza.
see HEBREW az. 5803, 5804. Azzah. 5804a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5804.htm - 5k

5804a. Azzah -- a Philistine city
... a Philistine city. Transliteration: Azzah Short Definition: Gaza. Word Origin of
uncertain derivation Definition a Philistine city NASB Word Usage Gaza (20). ...
/hebrew/5804a.htm - 5k

Gaza
... Chapters 11-20 Chapter 13 Gaza. ... There is mentioned the 'mart of Gaza,' one of the
three more famed marts,"to wit, that of Gaza, and of Aco, and of Botna. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 13 gaza.htm

The Name of the Man of Gaza.
... LXXX."The Name of the Man of Gaza. Ye who are to be inhabitants of the heavens with
God-Christ, hold fast the beginning, look at all things from heaven. ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/lxxx the name of the man.htm

How the Market-Town of Gaza was Made a City for Its Profession of ...
... Book IV. Chapter XXXVIII."How the Market-Town of Gaza was made a City for its
Profession of Christianity, and received the Name of Constantia. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxxviii how the market-town of.htm

Martyrdom of the Saints Eusebius, Nestabus, and Zeno in the City ...
... Book V. Chapter IX."Martyrdom of the Saints Eusebius, Nestabus, and Zeno
in the City of Gaza. As I have advanced thus far in my ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter ix martyrdom of the saints.htm

Letter xvii. --(For 345. ) Coss. Amantius, Albinus; Pr??f. ...
... Letter XVII."(For 345.) Coss. Amantius, Albinus; Pr??f. Nestorius of Gaza; Indict.
iii; Easter-day, vii Id. Apr., xii Pharmuthi; Moon 19; ??ra Dioclet. 61. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xvii for 345 coss amantius.htm

How Alexander, Upon the League of Mutual Defense which Cleopatra ...
... upon the League of Mutual Defense Which Cleopatra Had Agreed with Him, Made an
Expedition Against Coelesyria, and Utterly Overthrew the City of Gaza; and How ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how alexander upon.htm

Julian, on his Settlement in the Empire, Began Quietly to Stir up ...
... He likewise accused the inhabitants of Constantia in Palestine, of attachment to
Christianity, and rendered their city tributary to that of Gaza. ...
/.../chapter iii julian on his settlement.htm

Ascalon. Gerar. The Story of the Eighty Witches.
... Because it is ill to dwell in. How far? To the river of Egypt. But behold, Gaza
is pleasant to dwell in," &c. In the author of Aruch it is, Gardiki. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 14 ascalon gerar the.htm

Index.
... iii; Coss. Amantius, Albinus; the governor Nestorius of Gaza, Pr??fect of Egypt. ... IV,
Constans Aug. III; the same governor Nestorius of Gaza, Pr??fect of Egypt. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/index 2.htm

Preparation for Advent
... In the case of Ammon, it was brutal cruelty to captive women; but in the cases of
Gaza, of Tyre, and of Edom, it was slave-making and slave-trading invasions ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon ii preparation for advent.htm

Gaza (22 Occurrences)
... Philip is here told to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles
south-west of Jerusalem), "which is desert", ie, the "desert road," probably by ...GAZA. ...
/g/gaza.htm - 19k

Ashkelon (12 Occurrences)
... Samuel 6:17). It stood on the shore of the Mediterranean, 12 miles north
of Gaza. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ASHKELON. ask'-ke ...
/a/ashkelon.htm - 13k

Ashdod (21 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Stronghold, a Philistine city (Joshua 15:47), about midway
between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. ...
/a/ashdod.htm - 17k

Treasurer (6 Occurrences)
... trezh'-ur, trezh'-ur-er, trezh'-ur-i (otsar, genaz, genez, ganzakh, chocen matmon,
mickenah, mikhman, `athudh, saphan; gaza, thesauros): I. In the Old Testament ...
/t/treasurer.htm - 17k

Ash'kelon (10 Occurrences)
... RSV). Judges 1:18 Judah also took Gaza with its territory, and Ash'kelon
with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. (DBY RSV). ...
/a/ash'kelon.htm - 9k

Treasure (66 Occurrences)
... trezh'-ur, trezh'-ur-er, trezh'-ur-i (otsar, genaz, genez, ganzakh, chocen matmon,
mickenah, mikhman, `athudh, saphan; gaza, thesauros): I. In the Old Testament ...
/t/treasure.htm - 36k

Treasury (25 Occurrences)
... trezh'-ur, trezh'-ur-er, trezh'-ur-i (otsar, genaz, genez, ganzakh, chocen matmon,
mickenah, mikhman, `athudh, saphan; gaza, thesauros): I. In the Old Testament ...
/t/treasury.htm - 27k

Ekron (20 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:18 Also Judah took Gaza with its border, and Ashkelon with its border,
and Ekron with its border. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/ekron.htm - 17k

Anakim (10 Occurrences)
... Joshua finally expelled them from the land, except a remnant that found a refuge
in the cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Joshua 11:22). ...
/a/anakim.htm - 13k

Gerar (10 Occurrences)
... ge'-rar (gerar, "circle," "region"; Gerara): A town in the Philistine plain South
of Gaza (Genesis 10:19), where both Abraham and Isaac ' sojourned for a time ...
/g/gerar.htm - 12k

Should Israel be building settlements in the occupied territories, i.e., the West Bank and East Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Samson in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Philistines? | GotQuestions.org

Gaza: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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