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Gaza

Philistia

City in Philistia · today Gaza City

Meaning: “Strong, fortified

One of the five great Philistine cities — scene of Samson’s final triumph.

Location

Overview

Gaza was the southernmost of the five chief cities of the Philistines, guarding the coastal road between Egypt and Canaan. It appears from the table of nations to the early church.

A Philistine stronghold

Listed among the Canaanite borders (Genesis 10:19) and assigned to Judah (Joshua 15:47), Gaza remained a Philistine power that long resisted Israel.

Samson at Gaza

Gaza is bound up with Samson. He once carried away the city gates on his shoulders (Judges 16:3); later, betrayed by Delilah and blinded, he was bound in its prison-house. At the temple of Dagon he prayed for strength a final time and pulled down the pillars, killing more in his death than in his life (Judges 16:21–30).

The road to Gaza

In the New Testament, the road "which goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert" is where Philip met and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26–39).

Events Here

1075 BC

Samson destroys the temple of Dagon at Gaza

Judges 16:30
35 AD

Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza

Acts 8:26

Scripture References

21 verses
Genesis1 verse

Genesis 10:19

And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. Gaza: Heb. Azzah

Deuteronomy1 verse

Deuteronomy 2:23

And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)

Joshua3 verses

Joshua 10:41

And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

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 15:47

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:

Judges4 verses

Judges 1:18

Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

Judges 6:4

And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. sheep: or goat

Judges 16:1

Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. harlot: Heb. a woman an harlot

Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. put out: Heb. bored out

1 Samuel1 verse

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;

1 Kings1 verse

1 Kings 4:24

For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

2 Kings1 verse

2 Kings 18:8

He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. Gaza: Heb. Azzah

1 Chronicles1 verse

1 Chronicles 7:28

And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof: towns: Heb. daughters unto Gaza: or, Adassa

Jeremiah3 verses

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,

Jeremiah 47:1

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. Gaza: Heb. Azzah

Jeremiah 47:5

Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

Amos2 verses

Amos 1:6

Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: away captive: or, them away with an entire

Amos 1:7

But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

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 9:5

Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

Acts1 verse

Acts 8:26

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Archaeology & History

Gaza is among the oldest cities in the world, repeatedly fought over by Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, and others. The prophets Amos, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Zechariah all pronounced oracles against it. Today it is the principal city of the Gaza Strip.

People who appear here

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Frequently asked about Gaza

Where is Gaza today?

Today, Gaza corresponds to Gaza City.

What does the name Gaza mean?

The name Gaza means “Strong, fortified”.

What happened at Gaza in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Gaza include samson destroys the temple of dagon at gaza; philip baptizes the ethiopian eunuch on the road to gaza.

Where is Gaza first mentioned in the Bible?

Gaza is first mentioned in Genesis 10:19.

How often is Gaza mentioned in the Bible?

Gaza is mentioned in 21 verses across 13 books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Acts.

What happened to Samson at Gaza?

After being betrayed and blinded, Samson was imprisoned at Gaza. At a feast in the temple of Dagon he pushed apart the supporting pillars, destroying the temple and killing more Philistines in his death than in his life.

Was Gaza a Philistine city?

Yes — it was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, along with Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.