Askelon

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A city in the land of the Philistines, between Ashdod and Gaza, on the coast of the Mediterranean. After the death of Joshua, the tribe of Judah took Askelon; but it subsequently became one of the five governments belonging to the Philistines,  Judges 1:18;  1 Samuel 6:17 . Dr. Richardson thus describes its present state: "Askelon was one of the proudest satrapies of the Philistines; now there is not an inhabitant within its walls; and the prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled: The king shall perish from Gaza, and Askelon shall not be inhabited'"  Zechariah 9:5 .

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a city in the land of the Philistines, situated between Azoth and Gaza, upon the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about 520 furlongs from Jerusalem. The tribe of Judah, after the death of Joshua, took the city of Askelon,  Judges 1:18 , being one of the five governments belonging to the Philistines. The place at present is in ruins.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

As'kelon. See Ashkelon .

Holman Bible Dictionary

Ashkelon

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See ASHKELON.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

As´kelon, a city of the Philistines, and seat of one of their five states ( Judges 14:19;  1 Samuel 6:17;  2 Samuel 1:20). It was situated on the Mediterranean coast, between Gaza and Ashdod, twelve geog. miles north of the former, and ten S. by W. from the latter, and thirty-seven S.W.W. from Jerusalem. It was the only one of the five great Philistine towns that was a maritime port, and stood out close to the shore. Askelon was assigned to the tribe of Judah ( Joshua 13:13; comp.  Judges 1:18); but it was never for any length of time in possession of the Israelites. The part of the country in which it stood abounded in aromatic plants, onions, and vines. It was well fortified, and early became the seat of the worship of Decerto. After the time of Alexander it shared the lot of Phoenicia, and also of Judea, being tributary sometimes to Egypt, and at other times to Syria. The magnificent Herod was born at Askelon, and although the city did not belong to his dominion, he adorned it with fountains, baths, and colonnades; and after his death Salome, his sister, resided there in a palace which Caesar bestowed upon her. It suffered much in the Jewish war with the Romans, but afterwards it again revived, and in the Middle Ages was noted not only as a stronghold, but as a wealthy and important town. The town bears a prominent part in the history of the Crusades. After being several times dismantled and refortified in the times of Saladin and Richard, its fortifications were at length totally destroyed by the Sultan Bibars in A.D. 1270, and the port filled up with stones, for fear of future attempts on the part of the Crusaders. Its desolation has long been complete, and little now remains of it but the walls, with numerous fragments of granite pillars. The situation is described as strong; the thick walls, flanked with towers, were built on the top of a ridge of rock that encircles the town, and terminates at each end in the sea. The place still bears the name of Askulan.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

as´ke - lon  : the King James Version form in  Judges 1:18;  1 Samuel 6:17;  2 Samuel 1:20 , for Ashkelon (which see).