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gaza


gaza

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Gaza 
  called  also  Azzah,  which  is  its  Hebrew  name  (Deut.  2:23;  1  Kings 
  4:24;  Jer.  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  (Gen.  10:19;  Josh.  15:47).  Its  earliest 
  inhabitants  were  the  Avims,  who  were  conquered  and  displaced  by 
  the  Caphtorims  (Deut.  2:23;  Josh.  13:2,  3),  a  Philistine  tribe. 
  In  the  division  of  the  land  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Judah  (Josh. 
  15:47;  Judg.  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  Sam.  6:17).  Its  gates  were 
  carried  away  by  Samson  (Judg.  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  (Judg. 
  16:21-30).  The  prophets  denounce  the  judgments  of  God  against  it 
  (Jer.  25:20;  47:5;  Amos  1:6,  7;  Zeph.  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. 
 
 
  From  Hitchcock's  Bible  Names  Dictionary  (late  1800's)  [hitchcock]: 
 
  Gaza,  strong;  a  goat