Geographical and Historical Context:
Ashdod is one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, located in the southwestern part of ancient Canaan, near the Mediterranean coast. It is situated approximately midway between Gaza and Joppa (modern-day Jaffa). The city is known for its strategic location and its role as a significant maritime and trade center in antiquity.

Biblical References:
Ashdod is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Philistines, who were often in conflict with the Israelites. In the Book of Joshua, Ashdod is listed among the territories that remained unconquered by the Israelites during their initial conquest of Canaan (Joshua 13:3: "from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron in the north, all of it counted as Canaanite; the five rulers of the Philistines in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron; the Avvites").

The city is perhaps most famously associated with the Ark of the Covenant. After the Philistines captured the Ark from the Israelites, they brought it to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god Dagon. The following morning, the statue of Dagon was found fallen on its face before the Ark, and subsequently, the people of Ashdod were afflicted with tumors (1 Samuel 5:1-7: "When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon...").

Prophetic Significance:
Ashdod is also mentioned in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. The prophets often spoke against the city as part of their oracles against the nations. In the Book of Amos, Ashdod is called to witness the judgment against Israel (Amos 3:9: "Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: 'Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.'"). Similarly, the prophet Zephaniah includes Ashdod in his pronouncements of judgment against the Philistines (Zephaniah 2:4: "For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will lie in ruins. At midday Ashdod will be deserted, and Ekron will be uprooted.").

Post-Exilic Period:
During the post-exilic period, Ashdod continued to be a significant city. Nehemiah records that some of the Israelites had intermarried with the people of Ashdod, leading to a loss of cultural and religious identity among their children (Nehemiah 13:23-24: "In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, but they could not speak the language of Judah.").

Archaeological Insights:
Modern archaeological excavations at Ashdod have uncovered significant remains from various periods, including Philistine, Israelite, and later Hellenistic and Roman layers. These findings provide valuable insights into the city's historical and cultural development over the centuries.

Cultural and Religious Influence:
As a major Philistine city, Ashdod played a crucial role in the cultural and religious life of the region. The worship of Dagon and other deities was central to its identity, and its interactions with Israel highlight the ongoing religious and cultural tensions between the two peoples.

Summary:
Ashdod's prominence in biblical history is marked by its role as a Philistine stronghold, its association with the Ark of the Covenant, and its mention in prophetic judgments. Its strategic location and archaeological significance continue to make it a subject of interest for biblical scholars and historians.Ashdod

effusion; inclination; theft

Ashdod

One of the five chief cities of the Philistines, assigned to the tribe of Judah, but never conquered by them, Joshua 13:3; 15:47; 1 Samuel 5:1; 6:17; Nehemiah 4:7. Here stood the temple of Dagon; and hither the ark was first brought, after the fatal battle at Ebenezer, 1 Samuel 5:1. It was called by the Greeks Azotus. And belonged to Judea in the time of Christ. Here Philip preached the gospel, Acts 8:40. At the present day, it is a miserable village, still called Esdud.

Stronghold, a Philistine city (Joshua 15:47), about midway between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:5). It belonged to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:47), but it never came into their actual possession. It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from Egypt to Palestine, and hence was strongly fortified (2 Chronicles 26:6; Isaiah 20:1). Uzziah took it, but fifty years after his death it was taken by the Assyrians (B.C. 758). According to Sargon's record, it was captured by him in B.C. 711. The only reference to it in the New Testament, where it is called Azotus, is in the account of Philip's return from Gaza (Acts 8:40). It is now called Eshdud. ASHDOD

ash'-dod ('ashdodh; Azotos; modern Esdud): One of the five chief cities of the Philistines. The name means stronghold or fortress, and its strength may be inferred by the fact that Psammetik I, of Egypt, besieged it for many years (Herodotus says 29). Some of the Anakim were found there in the days of Joshua (Joshua 11:22), and the inhabitants were too strong for the Israelites at that time. It was among the towns assigned to Judah, but was not occupied by her (Joshua 13:3; Joshua 15:46, 47). It was still independent in the days of Samuel, when, after the defeat of the Israelites, the ark was taken to the house of Dagon in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1, 2). We have no account of its being occupied even by David, although he defeated the Philistines many times, and we have no definite knowledge of its coming into the hands of Judah until the time of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6).

Ashdod, like the other Philistine towns, came under the authority of the Assyrian monarchs, and we have mention of it in their records. It revolted against Sargon in 711 B.C., and deposed the Assyrian governor, Akhimiti, who had been appointed by him in 720. Sargon at once dispatched a force to subdue the rebels and the city was severely punished. This is referred to by Isaiah (Isaiah 20:1). Amos had prophesied such a calamity some years before (1:8), and Jeremiah refers to "the remnant of Ashdod" as though it had continued weak until his day (Jeremiah 25:20). Zephaniah (Ze 2:4) refers to the desolation of Ashdod and Zechariah to its degraded condition (Zechariah 9:6). It continued to be inhabited, however, for we find the Jews intermarried with them after the return from Babylon (Nehemiah 13:23, 24). In the Maccabean period we are told that Judas and Jonathan both took it and purified it of idolatry (1 Maccabees 5:68; 10:84). In these passages it is called Azotus, as it is also in the New Testament (Acts 8:40). In the 4th century A.D. it became the seat of a bishopric. It had been restored in the time of Herod, by the Roman general Gabinius, and was presented to Salome, the sister of Herod, by the emperor Augustus. It is now a small village about 18 miles Northeast of Gaza.

H. Porter

108. Azotos -- Azotus (ie Ashdod), a Philistine city
... Azotus (ie Ashdod), a Philistine city. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
Azotos Phonetic Spelling: (ad'-zo-tos) Short Definition: Azotus, Ashdod ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/108.htm - 6k795. Ashdod -- a city of the Philistines
... 794, 795. Ashdod. 796 . a city of the Philistines. Transliteration: Ashdod
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-dode') Short Definition: Ashdod. ...
/hebrew/795.htm - 6k

797. Ashdodith -- in the language of Ashdod
... 796, 797. Ashdodith. 798 . in the language of Ashdod. Transliteration: Ashdodith
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-do-deeth') Short Definition: Ashdod. Word Origin fem ...
/hebrew/797.htm - 6k

796. Ashdodi -- an inhabitant of Ashdod
... an inhabitant of Ashdod. Transliteration: Ashdodi Phonetic Spelling: (ash-do-dee')
Short Definition: Ashdodites. Word Origin from Ashdod Definition an inhab. ...
/hebrew/796.htm - 6k

The Destruction that came Upon the Philistines, and Upon
... 1. When the Philistines had taken the ark of the Hebrews captive, as I said a little
before, they carried it to the city of Ashdod, and put it by their own god ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 the destruction that.htm

The Ark among the Philistines
... The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the temple of Dagon
in Ashdod and set it up by the side of Dagon. When the ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the ark among the philistines.htm

How Alexander Honored Jonathan after an Extraordinary Manner; and ...
... But Apollonius, when he heard that Joppa was taken by Jonathan, took three thousand
horsemen, and eight thousand footmen and came to Ashdod; and removing thence ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how alexander honored.htm

A Young Man who Said, "Send Me"
... He fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and of Jabneh
and of Ashdod and built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a young man who said.htm

Reformation
... "In those days," he writes, "saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon,
and of Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 57 reformation.htm

The History of Saul
... Then the Philistines took the ark of God and set it in their temple of Dagon,
by their god Dagon, in Ashdod. On the morn, the next ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of saul.htm

Of the Distribution of the Keys, and their Power, or of the ...
... Scripture phrase. For it becomes true Israelites rather to speak the language
of Canaan, then the language of Ashdod. When Paul ...
/.../chap ii of the distribution.htm

Appendix I.
... Scythian-Assyrian alliance, in order to preserve the Assyrian territories from the
arms of Psamtik of Egypt, who had since 639 been besieging Ashdod; and he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/appendix i.htm

Three Decisive Steps
... The crowning disaster of the day was "the ark of God was taken." The Philistines
carried it away to Ashdod, and set it in the house of Dagon, their idol. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/three decisive steps.htm

Philip the Evangelist
... went and preached the Gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, and then he was borne away
from the new convert, and after the Spirit had put him down at Ashdod he had ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/philip the evangelist 2.htm

Ashdod (21 Occurrences)
... It is now called Eshdud. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ASHDOD. ash'-dod ('ashdodh;
Azotos; modern Esdud): One of the five chief cities of the Philistines. ...
/a/ashdod.htm - 17k

Ashdod's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ashdod's (1 Occurrence). Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza
is forsaken, And Ashkelon 'is' for a desolation, Ashdod! ...
/a/ashdod's.htm - 6k

Gazah (16 Occurrences)
... Joshua 11:22 There were none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel;
only at Gazah, at Gath, and at Ashdod there remained. (DBY). ...
/g/gazah.htm - 11k

Dagon (9 Occurrences)
... The most famous of the temples of Dagon were at Gaza (Judges 16:23-30) and Ashdod
(1 Samuel 5:1-7). (see FISH.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/d/dagon.htm - 12k

Ashkelon (12 Occurrences)
... David couples Ashkelon with Gath in his lament over Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel
1:20) indicating its importance, and it is joined with Gaza, Ashdod and Ekron ...
/a/ashkelon.htm - 13k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... the passage mentioned, but it appears under the form "Jabneh" (yabhneh) in 2 Chronicles
26:6, as is evident from the mention of Gath and Ashdod in connection ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Ash'kelon (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for
a guilt-offering unto the LORD: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one ...
/a/ash'kelon.htm - 9k

Sargon (1 Occurrence)
... the Assyrian monarchs. He is mentioned by name in the Bible only in connection
with the siege of Ashdod (Isaiah 20:1). At the very ...
/s/sargon.htm - 10k

Ekron (20 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:46 from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with
their villages. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/ekron.htm - 17k

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)
... Jericho. (See NIV). Joshua 15:46 from Ekron even to the sea, all that were
by the side of Ashdod, with their villages. (See NIV). ...
/v/vicinity.htm - 11k

Who was Dagon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Philistines? | GotQuestions.org

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