Difference between revisions of "Gazara"

<p> [usually Gaza'rsa] ( '''''Ἡ''''' or '''''Τὰ''''' '''''Γάζαρα''''' ) '','' a town of Palestine, often mentioned in the ''Apocrypiea'' and by [[Josephus]] as the scene of many battles in the Maccabean period, and as alternately possessed by each of the opposing parties. When Gorgias, general of [[Antiochus]] Epiphanes, was defeated by [[Judas]] Maccabaeus, his forces were pursued "unto Gazara, and unto the plains of Idumaea, and Azotus, and Jamnia" ( '''''Ἔως''''' '''''Γαζηρῶν''''' , etc., 1 [[Maccabees]] 4 :l; '''''Μέχρι''''' '''''Γαδάρων''''' '','' etc., Josephus, Ant. 12:7,4); [[Nicanor]] was also defeated by Judas, and pursued from "Adasa to Gazara" ( '''''Εἰς''''' '''''Γάζηρα''''' , &nbsp;1 Maccabees 7:45). After the defeat of the Idumaeans, Judas went against Timotheus, who fled to Gazara for refuge. Judas, after several days' siege, took the city (&nbsp;2 Maccabees 10:32-37; comp. Josephus, Ant. 12:8, 1-4); many of its towers were burnt, and [[Timotheus]] himself killed (2 Maccabees 1.c.). When [[Bacchides]] returned to Jerusalem, after the defeat of Jonathan, he fortified several cities, and among them Baethsura and Gazara, and the tower ( '''''Ἄκρα''''' ) of [[Jerusalem]] (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 9:52; Josephus, ''Ant.'' 13:1, 3), and it was again fortified by Simon when it had been recovered by the [[Jews]] (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 14:7; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 14:33-34; Josephus, Ant. 13:6, 6; War, 1:2, 2). Simon built himself a house ait Gazara, and also made it the abode of his son John, the captain of all his hosts (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 13:53; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 16:1; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 16:19; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 16:21). It is described as being "a very strong hold" ( '''''Ὀχύρωμα''''' , &nbsp;2 Maccabees 10:32; '''''Γάζαρα''''' ... '''''Οῦσαν''''' '''''Ὀχυρὰν''''' '''''Φυσει''''' , comp. Josephus, ''Ant.'' 8:6, 1). Gazara is mentioned with [[Joppa]] in the treaty of friendship between [[Hyrcanus]] and the Romans after the death of Antiocbus VII, Sidetes, B.C. cir. 129-8 (Josephus, Ant. 13:9, 2; comp. Clinton, ''F.H. 3:'' 332). The [[Gaza]] in 1 Macc. (13:43) and the Gadara in Josephus (Ant. 5:1, 22; 12:7, 4) should doubtless be read Gazara (comp. Prideaux, Connection, lib. 4, page 267, note; Reland, Palaest. page 679). It may perhaps be identified with the Gadaris of [[Strabo]] (16:2, Didot. ed., page 646), also described by him as a town not far from [[Azotus]] (Reland, Palest. 1.c.; Cellarius, Geog. 2:530). (See [[Gazera]]). </p> <p> It is mentioned by [[Eusebius]] (Onomasticon, s.v. '''''Γαζέρ''''' ) as being four miles from [[Nicopolis]] or Emmaus, but it was more probably nearer the sea-coast, as in the Maccabees and Josephus it is nearly always coupled with Joppa, Azotus, and [[Jamnia]] (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 14:34; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 15:28; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 15:35; &nbsp;1 Maccabees 4:15; Josephus, ''Ant.'' 12:7, 4; 13:6, 6; 9, 2; War, 1:2, 2), and again in distinct language as bordering upon Azotus (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 14:34). It appears to have been the same place with GAZER (See [[Gazer]]) or GEZER (See Gezer) (q.v.), a town frequently mentioned in the O.T. under similar connections. As David chased the [[Philistines]] from [[Geba]] to Gazer (&nbsp;2 Samuel 5:25; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 14:16; '''''Ἄχρι''''' '''''Πόλεως''''' '''''Γαζάρων''''' , Josephus, Ant. 7:4, 1), so Judas defeated [[Gorgias]] at [[Emmaus]] and pursued him to Gazara (&nbsp;1 Maccabees 4:15). Pharaoh, the father-in-law of Solomon, took Gazer (&nbsp;1 Kings 9:16-17), then a [[Canaanitish]] city, burnt it, slew the [[Canaanites]] that were in it, and gave it in dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife (compare Josephus, [[Ant]] . 8:6, 1). This must have occurred during the reign of David, or early in that of Solomon,' and it seems out of the question to suppose that Pharaoh, when the [[Israelitish]] kingdom was so powerful, could have advanced far into the interior of the country. The site near the sea-coast is therefore confirmed by this circumstance. </p> <p> Gazara may be identified with the modern village Yazur, 3 1/2 miles E. of Joppa; though as a coast town and a place of strength in the time of the Maccabees it is unlikely that it should have so entirely lost its importance (comp. Kitto, Palestine, 1:695 n.). It must be remembered, however, that names sometimes linger in the neighborhood of sites. </p>