Difference between revisions of "Ekron"

<p> The most northern city of the Philistines, allotted to [[Judah]] by Joshua 15:45 , but afterwards given to Daniel 12:13 , though it does not appear that the [[Jews]] ever peaceably possessed it. It is memorable for its connection with the captivity of the ark and its restoration to the Jews, 1 Samuel 5:10 6:1-18 . The fly-god was worshipped here, 2 Kings 1:2 . Its ruin was foretold, Amos 1:8 Zephaniah 2:4 Zechariah 9:5,7 . Robinson found its site at the Moslem village Akir, some ten miles northeast of Ashdod. There are no ruins. </p>

<p> [[Ekron]] was assigned to both [[Judah]] (Joshua 15:11 ,Joshua 15:11,15:45-46 ) and [[Dan]] (Joshua 19:43 ) in the tribal allotments. It probably lay on the border between the tribes. Judges 1:18 reports that Judah captured Ekron along with other parts of the [[Philistine]] coast, but Ekron was certainly in Philistine hands at the time the ark was captured ( 1 Samuel 5:10 ). It was also the place to which the [[Philistines]] retreated after [[David]] slew [[Goliath]] (1 Samuel 17:52 ). Ahaziah, the son of King [[Ahab]] of Israel, called on the god of Ekron, Baal-zebub, when he was sick (2 Kings 1:2-16 ). That name (literally, “Lord of the flies”) may have been slightly changed by the [[Hebrew]] writer to express antipathy toward the Philistine deity. The name of the deity may have been Baal-zebul (“Baal is exalted”). </p> <p> Excavations at tell Miqne have discovered much pottery that is typically Philistine. From the last period before tell Miqne was destroyed by the Babylonians, the excavators found an important industrial complex near the city gate. A hoard of iron agricultural tools was found. [[Hundreds]] of whole pottery vessels were present. Perhaps most importantly, a well-preserved olive press was discovered. This press is the largest and best preserved known in Israel. A horned altar was also found during the excavations. </p> <p> Joel F. Drinkard, Jr. </p>

<p> The most northerly of the five cities of the Philistines. It fell to the lot of Judah, and then passed to Dan. It was taken by Judah, but the [[Philistines]] kept or gained possession. The ark of [[God]] was carried there from Ashdod, and from thence was returned to Israel. It was to [[Ekron]] that king [[Ahaziah]] sent to inquire of the god Baal-zebub if he should recover from his accident. 2 Kings 1:2,3,16 . The city is denounced in the prophets. Joshua 15:11,45,46; Joshua 19:43; Judges 1:18; 1 Samuel 5:10; 1 Samuel 6:16,17; 1 Samuel 7:14; 1 Samuel 17:52; Jeremiah 25:20; Amos 1:8; Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5,7 . Identified with <i> Akir, </i> 31 52' N, 34 49' E . </p>

<p> Ek´ron, the chief of the five [[Philistine]] states , and the northernmost of the five. In the general distribution of territory (unconquered as well as conquered) [[Ekron]] was assigned to Judah, as being upon its border (;; ): but was afterwards apparently given to [[Dan]] although conquered by [[Judah]] . In [[Scripture]] Ekron is chiefly remarkable from the ark having been sent home from thence, upon a new cart drawn by two milch kine . In later days it is named with the other cities of the [[Philistines]] in the denunciations of the prophets against that people . The name of Ekron, or rather Accaron, occurs incidentally in the histories of the Crusades; and it has lately been recognized by Dr. Robinson in that of Akri, in a situation corresponding to all we know of Ekron. Akri is a small Muslim village, five miles south of Ramleh. It is built of unburnt bricks, and, as there are no apparent ruins, the ancient town was probably of the same materials. It is alleged, however, that cisterns and the stones of hand-mills are often found at Akri and in the adjacent fields. </p>

<p> (Hebrews Ekron', עֶקְרוֹן, eradication, comp. Zephaniah 2:4, which apparently contains a play upon the word; Sept. [usually] and [[Josephus]] Ἀκκαρών, Vulg. Accaron), one of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, and the most northerly of the five (Joshua 13:3). Like the other [[Philistine]] cities, its situation was in the maritime plain. In the general distribution of territory (unconquered as well as conquered) [[Ekron]] was assigned to Judah, as being upon its border (Joshua 13:3), between [[Bethshemesh]] and [[Jabneel]] (Joshua 15:11; Joshua 15:45), but apparently was afterwards given to Dan, although conquered by [[Judah]] (Joshua 15:11; Joshua 15:45; Joshua 19:43; Judges 1:18; comp. Josephus, Ant. 5:1, 22; 5:2, 4). But it mattered little to which tribe it nominally belonged, for before the monarchy it was again in full possession of the [[Philistines]] (1 Samuel 5:10). In [[Scripture]] Ekron is chiefly remarkable from the ark having been sent home from thence, upon a new cart draw n by two much kine (1 Samuel 5:10; 1 Samuel 6:1-8). Ekron was the last place to which the ark was carried before its return to Israel, and the mortality there in consequence seems to have been greater than at either [[Ashdod]] or Gath. (The Sept. in both MSS., and Josephus [Ant. 6:1, 1], substitute [[Ascalon]] for Ekron throughout this passage [1 Samuel 5:10-12]. In support of this it should be remarked that, according to the [[Hebrew]] text, the golden trespass-offerings were given for Ashkelon, though it is omitted from the detailed narrative of the journeyings of the ark. There are other important differences between the Sept. and Hebrew texts of this transaction. See especially v. 60) From Ekron to Bethshemesh (q.v.) was a straight highway (Thomson, Land and Book, 2:309). After David's victory over Goliath, the Philistines were pursued as far as this place (1 Samuel 17:52). [[Henceforward]] Ekron appears to have remained uninterruptedly in the hands of the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:52; 2 Kings 1:2; 2 Kings 1:16; Jeremiah 25:20). [[Except]] the casual mention of a noted sanctuary of [[Baalzebub]] (q.v.) existing there (2 Kings 1:2-3; 2 Kings 1:6; 2 Kings 1:16), there is nothing to distinguish Ekron from any other town of this district. In later days it is merely named with the other cities of the Philistines in the denunciations of the prophets against that people (Jeremiah 25:20; Amos 1:8; Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5). The name occurs in the cuneiform inscriptions (q.v.) of the [[Assyrian]] monuments. In the Apocropha it appears as [[Accaron]] (Ἀκκαρών, 1 [[Maccabees]] 10:89, only), bestowed with its borders (τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς ) by [[Alexander]] [[Balas]] on [[Jonathan]] Maccabaeus as a reward for his services. [[Eusebius]] and [[Jerome]] describe it (Onomast. s.v. ] Ακκαρών , Accaron) as a large village of the Jews, between [[Azotus]] and [[Jamnia]] towards the east, or eastward of a line drawn between these two places., The same name Accaron occurs incidentally in the histories of the [[Crusades]] (Gesta Dei per Francos, page 404). The site of Ekron has lately been recognized by Dr. Robinson (Bib. Researcher, 3:24) in that of 'Akir, in a situation corresponding to all that we know of Ekron. The radical letters of the Arabic name are the same as those of the Hebrew, and both the [[Christians]] and [[Moslems]] of the neighborhood regard the site as that of the ancient Ekron. It is a considerable Moslem village, about five miles southwest of Ramleh, and three due east of Yebna, on the northern side of the important valley [[Wady]] Surar. It is built of unburnt bricks, and, as there are no apparent ruins, the ancient town was probably of the same materials. It is alleged, however, that cisterns and the stones of hand-mills are often found at Akir and in the adjacent fields. The plain south is rich, but immediately round the village it has a dreary, forsaken appearance (hence perhaps the name = "wasteness"), only relieved by a few scattered stunted trees (Porter, Handb. page 275; and see [[Van]] de Velde, 2:169). </p>