Location
Overview
Ashdod was one of the five Philistine cities, near the Mediterranean coast, and the seat of the temple of the fish-god Dagon.
Dagon falls before the ark
The Philistines carried the captured ark "into the house of Dagon." The next morning "Dagon was fallen upon his face... before the ark," and the day after, "the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off" (1 Samuel 5:1–4).
Plague on the city
"The hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod," striking the city with tumours, so the Philistines sent the ark away (1 Samuel 5:6–7).
A Philistine stronghold
Ashdod remained a Philistine power long after; Uzziah broke down its wall (2 Chronicles 26:6), and the prophets pronounced judgment on it (Amos 1:8; Zephaniah 2:4). In Nehemiah's day its speech still threatened Judah's identity (Nehemiah 13:23–24).
Events Here
The idol Dagon falls before the ark at Ashdod
Scripture References
18 versesJoshua3 verses
Joshua 11:22
There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
Joshua 15:46
From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: near: Heb. by the place of
Joshua 15:47
Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
1 Samuel6 verses
1 Samuel 5:1
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
1 Samuel 5:3
And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
1 Samuel 5:5
Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.
1 Samuel 5:6
But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
1 Samuel 5:7
And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
1 Samuel 6:17
And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
2 Chronicles1 verse
2 Chronicles 26:6
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. about: or, in the country of Ashdod
Nehemiah2 verses
Nehemiah 13:23
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: had: Heb. had made to dwell with them
Nehemiah 13:24
And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. could: Heb. they discerned not to speak of each: Heb. of people and people
Isaiah1 verse
Isaiah 20:1
In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
Jeremiah1 verse
Jeremiah 25:20
And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,
Amos2 verses
Amos 1:8
And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.
Amos 3:9
Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. oppressed: or, oppressions
Zephaniah1 verse
Zephaniah 2:4
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
Zechariah1 verse
Zechariah 9:6
And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Archaeology & History
Ancient Ashdod lies just inland of the modern city. Excavations have uncovered a major Philistine city with characteristic pottery and a temple, and the "Ashdoda" figurine of a seated goddess. It was one of the longest-lived of the Philistine pentapolis cities.
Objects mentioned here
Frequently asked about Ashdod
Where is Ashdod today?
Today, Ashdod corresponds to Ashdod, Israel.
What does the name Ashdod mean?
The name Ashdod means “Fortress, stronghold”.
What happened at Ashdod in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Ashdod include the idol dagon falls before the ark at ashdod.
Where is Ashdod first mentioned in the Bible?
Ashdod is first mentioned in Joshua 11:22.
How often is Ashdod mentioned in the Bible?
Ashdod is mentioned in 18 verses across 9 books: Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, Zechariah.
What happened to Dagon at Ashdod?
When the Philistines placed the captured ark in Dagon’s temple at Ashdod, the idol fell before it and was found broken — its head and hands cut off — and the city was struck with a plague.
Was Ashdod a Philistine city?
Yes — one of the five chief Philistine cities, on the Mediterranean coast.