Ashdod

Holman Bible Dictionary

Asdod was ten miles north of Ashkelon and two and a half miles east of the Mediterranean Sea on the Philistine plain. It was the northernmost city of the Philistine pentapolis recorded in  Joshua 13:3 . Ashdod occurs in written history first in the Late Bronze period where it is mentioned in the trade documents of the Ras Shamra tablets discovered at Ugarit (ancient trade center near the Mediterranean coast in northern Syria). Ashdod is described as a manufacturer and exporter of textiles, specifically purple wool. The city name also occurs in the Egyptian list of names, Onomasticon of Amanope (263).

Old Testament In the Old Testament Ashdod was a place where some of the Anakim remained during the time of Joshua ( Joshua 11:22 ). See Anakim. As one of the five chief cities of the Philistines it stood yet to be possessed by Joshua ( Joshua 13:3 ), who allocated it to the tribe of Judah ( Joshua 15:46-7 ). David subdued the Philistines, implicitly including Ashdod ( 2 Samuel 5:25;  2 Samuel 8:1 ), but it was not described as under Israel's control until Uzziah (783-742 B.C.) captured it ( 2 Chronicles 26:8 ). Perhaps the most infamous contact between Ashdod and Israel is reported in  1 Samuel 4-6 when the Philistines defeated the army of Israel in battle, killed the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, and captured the ark of the covenant.

Although the city was captured by Uzziah, it did not remain long under Judah's control and regained enough strength to revolt from Sargon II in 711 B.C. The Assyrians were able quickly to subdue the Philistines, and they remained under Assyrian control until captured by the Egyptian Pharaoh Psammetichus I (664-610) after a 29-year siege as reported by Herodotus. Under Nebuchadnezzar (604-562 B.C.), Babylon soon captured this territory and took the king of Ashdod prisoner.

The prophets of Israel spoke about the city of Ashdod in various military, political and moral contexts ( Nehemiah 13:23-24;  Isaiah 20:1-6;  Jeremiah 25:20;  Amos 1:8;  Zechariah 9:6 ). Throughout the Persian period the city remained a threat to Israel.

Extra-biblical Sources In the Greek period Ashdod was known as Azotus and was a flourishing city until being captured by Israel during the Maccabean period. Judas Maccabeus destroyed altars and images in Ashdod ( 1 Maccabees 5:68 ), and Jonathan later burned the temple of Dagon, those who took refuge there, and ultimately the city itself ( 1 Maccabees 10:84-87 ).

Josephus reported that Pompey separated Ashdod from Israel after his victory (63 B.C.), Gabinius rebuilt the city, and it was joined to the province of Syria. Augustus granted it to Herod the Great. Herod left it to his sister Salome, who in turn willed it to Julia, the wife of Augustus. Its greatness as a city ended with the Roman destruction of A.D. 67, although it was occupied at least through the sixth century.

Archaeological Evidence The major archaeological work on Ashdod was done from 1962-72 under the direction of D. N. Freedman and others. Some evidence remains from Chalcolithic and Early Bronze times, but the major remains date from Middle Bronze and later including a walled city dating around 1625 B.C. A major destruction of the city was indicated by a three foot layer of ash and debris dating about 1250 B.C. Two extensive Philistine occupation levels date from the twelfth and eleventh centuries B.C. The Iron Age showed a flourishing community, and an Iron II temple yielded many cultic artifacts.

George W. Knight

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

ASHDOD or AZOTUS. ("fortress".) Now Esdud. On a commanding height. One of the five confederate Philistine cities, 30 miles from the S. of Palestine, three from the Mediterranean, midway between Gaza and Joppa. A seat of the worship of (See Dagon ; there the idol fell before God's captive ark, the head and palms cut off, and only the fishy stump (margin) left ( 1 Samuel 5:3-8). Ashdod had been originally assigned to Judah ( Joshua 15:47), but never occupied by the Jews, nay, made a point of attack on them: not until King Uzziah was its "wall broken down and cities built about it," i.e. forts on the surrounding hills ( 2 Chronicles 26:6).

In Nehemiah's time Ashdod still retained its distinctive language and race, and ensnared by marriages the Jews returned from Babylon, after vainly striving to prevent the walls of Jerusalem being built ( Nehemiah 4:7-8;  Nehemiah 13:23-24). It was the key of entrance between Palestine and Egypt. As such, it was besieged by the Assyrian general Tartan under Sargon (716 B.C.), to counteract Hezekiah's league with Egypt ( Isaiah 20:1). So strongly did the Assyrians fortify it that it stood a 29 years' siege (the longest on record) under the Egyptian Psammeticus, who took it 630 B.C.

These calamities were foretold  Jeremiah 25:20;  Amos 1:8;  Zephaniah 2:4;  Zechariah 9:5-6, "a bastard shall dwell in Asdod," i.e. an alien; perhaps referring to an Arabian occupation of it during the Babylonian exile. Compare  Nehemiah 4:7;  Nehemiah 13:24. Destroyed by the Maccabees. Restored by the Roman Gabinius 55 B.C. Assigned to Salome by Augustus. Visited by Philip the evangelist, who preached there on his way from Gaza to Caesarea ( Acts 8:40). A bishop from it was present at the councils of Nice and Chalcedon.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ASHDOD (‘fortress’; Greek Azotus ). A city in the Philistine Pentapolis; not captured by Joshua (  Joshua 13:3 ), and a refuge for the unslaughtered Anakim (  Joshua 11:22 ); theoretically assigned to the tribe of Judah (  Joshua 15:47 ). Hither the Phliistines brought the ark, and sent it thence to Gath, on account of an outbreak probably of bubonic plague (  1 Samuel 5:1-8 ). Uzziah attacked the city, destroyed its walls, and established settlements near it (  2 Chronicles 26:6 ). The Ashdodites joined with Sanballat in opposing Nehemiah s restoration of Jerusalem (  Nehemiah 4:7 ), yet some of the Jews of the period married wives from Ashdod, and their children spoke in its dialect (  Nehemiah 13:23-24 ). It was captured by Sargon’s commander-in-chief (  Isaiah 20:1 ). Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, and Zechariah speak denunciations against it. It was again captured by Judas Maccabæus ( 1Ma 5:68 ), and again by Jonathan ( 1Ma 10:84 ). The solitary reference to it in the NT is the record of Philip’s departure thither after the baptism of the Ethiopian (  Acts 8:40 ). It is identified with the modern Esdud , a village about two-thirds of the way from Jaffa to ‘Askalan , and some 3 miles from the sea. It is on the slope of a hill, and at its entrance are the remains of a large mediæval khan . There are fragments of ancient buildings to be found here and there in the modern walls.

R. A. S. Macalister.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

One of the five chief cities of the Philistines. It was assigned to Judah, but was not subdued by them, and thus became a thorn in their sides.  Numbers 33:55 . It was to this city that the ark was taken by the Philistines, and where Dagon their fish-god fell before it.  1 Samuel 5:1-7 . Uzziah broke down its wall, and built cities near it.  2 Chronicles 26:6 . It was on the high road from Palestine to Egypt which doubtless led Sargon king of Assyria to take it by his general, about B.C. 714.  Isaiah 20:1 . Herodotus records that Psammetichus, king of Egypt, besieged it for 29 years. Jeremiah speaks of Ashdod as one of the places which was made to drink of the fury of God.  Jeremiah 25:15-20 . The Maccabees destroyed the city, but Gabinius rebuilt it at the time of the conquest of Judaea by the Romans, B.C. 55, and it was afterwards assigned on the death of Herod the Great to his sister Salome. It was situated about 3 miles from the Mediterranean, and midway between Gaza and Joppa. It is now called Esdud, or Esdood, 34 40' E 31 46' N , and is wretched in the extreme, though lying in a fertile plain. It is called in the N.T. Azotus where Philip was found after baptising the eunuch.  Acts 8:40 . Its inhabitants are referred to as Ashdodites, Ashdothites  Joshua 13:3;  Nehemiah 4:7 .

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Ashdod was one of the ‘five cities of the Philistines’, the other four being Ashkelon, Ekron, Gaza and Gath ( Joshua 13:3;  1 Samuel 6:17-18; see Philistia ). The story most readily associated with Ashdod concerns the temple of Dagon that was in the town. When the Philistines captured Israel’s ark of the covenant and placed it in the temple, the god Dagon fell down in front of the ark and broke in pieces ( 1 Samuel 5:1-5).

As a result of enemy attacks that destroyed parts of the city ( Isaiah 20:1;  Jeremiah 25:17-20), Ashdod was rebuilt several times during its long history. In New Testament times it was a prosperous town known as Azotus ( Acts 8:40). Today it is a smaller town and is known by its original name, Ashdod.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ash'dod. (A Stronghold).  Acts 8:40. One of the five confederate cities of the Philistines situated about 30 miles from the southern frontier of Palestine, three from the Mediterranean Sea, and nearly midway between Gaza and Joppa. It was assigned to the tribe of Judah,  Joshua 15:47, but was never subdued by the Israelites. Its chief importance arose from its position on the high road from Palestine to Egypt. It is now an insignificant village, with no memorials of its ancient importance, but is still called Esdud.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Ashdod ( Ăsh'D Ŏd ), Stronghold, Castle. One of the five confederate cities of the Philistines, allotted to Judah,  Joshua 15:46-47 : the chief seat of Dagon-worship,  1 Samuel 5:1-12. It was three miles from the Mediterranean, and midway between Gaza and Joppa. The place is called Azotus in the New Testament.  Acts 8:40. It is now a mean Tillage called Esdud; near it are extensive ruins.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 15:47 1 Samuel 5:5 Joshua 15:47 2 Chronicles 26:6 Isaiah 20:1 Acts 8:40

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Ashdod', אִשְׁדּוֹד , a Stronghold; Sept. and N.T. ῎Αζωοτς ), the Azotus of the Greeks and Romans, and so called in  1 Maccabees 4:15;  Acts 8:40 (see also Plin. Hist. Nat. v, 14; Ptolem. v, 16); a city of the Philistine Pentapolis, on the summit of a grassy hill (Richardson, Travels, ii, 206), near the Mediterranean coast (comp. Joseph. Ant. 14:4, 4), nearly mid. way between Gaza and Joppa, being 18 geographical miles north by east from the former (270 stadia north, according to Diod. Sic. 19:85), and 21 south from the latter; and, more exactly, midway between Askelon and Ekron, being 10 geographical miles north by east from the former, and south by west from the latter (see Cellar. Notit. ii, 599; Mannert, VI, i, 261 sq.). Ashdod was a city of the Philistines, and the chief town of one of their five confederate states ( Joshua 13:3;  1 Samuel 6:17). It was the seat of the worship of Dagon ( 1 Samuel 5:5;  1 Maccabees 11:4), before whose shrine in this city it was that the captured ark was deposited and triumphed over the idol ( 1 Samuel 5:1-9). Ashdod was assigned to Judah ( Joshua 15:47); but many centuries passed before it and the other Philistine towns were subdued ( 1 Kings 4:24), (See Philistines); and it appears never to have been permanently in possession of the Judahites, although it was dismantled by Uzziah, who built towns in the territory of Ashdod ( 2 Chronicles 26:6). It is mentioned to the reproach of the Jews after their return from captivity that they married wives of Ashdod; the result of which was that the children of these marriages spoke a mongrel dialect, compounded of Hebrew and the speech of Ashdod ( Nehemiah 13:23-24). It was a place of great strength; and being on the usual military route between Syria and Egypt, the possession of it became an object of importance in the wars between Egypt and the great northern powers. Hence it was secured by the Assyrians under Tartan (B.C. 715) before invading Egypt ( Isaiah 20:1 sq.); and about B.C. 630 it was taken by Psammetichus, after a siege of twenty-nine years, the longest on record (Herodot. ii, 157). That it recovered from this blow appears from its being mentioned as an independent power in alliance, after the exile, with the Arabians and others against Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 4:7).

The destruction of Ashdod was foretold by the prophets ( Jeremiah 25:20;  Amos 1:8;  Amos 3:9;  Zephaniah 2:4;  Zechariah 9:6), and was accomplished by the Maccabees ( 1 Maccabees 5:68;  1 Maccabees 10:77-84;  1 Maccabees 11:4). It is enumerated among the towns which Pompey joined to the province of Syria (Joseph. Ant. 14: 4, 4; War, i, 7, 7), and among the cities ruined in the wars, which Gabinius ordered to be rebuilt (Ant. 14: 5, 3). It was included in Herod's dominion, and was one of the three towns bequeathed by him to his sister Salome (War, 17: 8, 1; 11:5). The evangelist Philip was found at Ashdod after he had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch ( Acts 8:40). Azotus early became the seat of a bishopric; and we find a bishop of this city present at the councils of Nice, Chalcedon, A.D. 359, Seleucia, and Jerusalem, A.D. 536 (Reland, Palestina, p. 609). Ashdod subsisted as a small unwalled town in the time of Jerome. It was in ruins when Benjamin of Tudela visited Palestine (Itin. ed. Asher, i, 79); but we learn from William of Tyre and Vitriacus that the bishopric was revived by the Latin Christians, at least titularly, and made suffragan of Treves. Sandys (Travailes, p. 151) describes it "as a place of no reckoning;" and Zuallart (Voyage, 4:132) speaks of it as an Arab village (comp. Van Troilo, 1666, p. 349). Irby and Mangles (p. 180) describe it as an inhabited site marked by ancient ruins, such as broken arches and partly-buried fragments of marble columns; there is also what appeared to these travellers to be a very ancient khan, the principal chamber of which had obviously, at some former period, been used as a Christian chapel. The place is still called Esdud (Volney, Trav. ii, 251; Schwarz, Palest. p. 120). The name occurs in the cuneiform inscriptions (q.v.). The ancient remains are few and indistinct (Hackett, Illustra. of Script. p. 185). The ruined khan to the west of the village marks the Acropolis of the ancient town, and the grove near it alone protects the site from the shifting sand of the adjoining plain, which threatens, at no distant day, entirely to overwhelm the spot (Thomson, Land and Book, ii, 319).

The inhabitants are styled ( אִשְׁדּוֹדִי ,  Nehemiah 5:7; "Ashdothites,"  Joshua 13:3; the dialect is the Pim. אִשְׁדּוֹדִית , Ashdodith', Sept. Ἀζωτιστί , Vulg. Azotice, A. V. "in the speech of Ashdod,"  Nehemiah 13:24).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ash´dod, the Azotus of the Greeks and Romans, and so called in  1 Maccabees 4:15;  Acts 8:40; a city on the summit of a grassy hill, near the Mediterranean coast, nearly mid-way between Gaza and Joppa, being 18 geog. miles N. by E. from the former, and 21 S. from the latter; and it is more exactly mid-way between Askelon and Ekron, being 10 geog. miles N. by E. from the former, and S. by W. from the latter. Ashdod was a city of the Philistines, and the chief town of one of their five states ( Joshua 13:3;  1 Samuel 6:17). It was the seat of the worship of Dagon ( 1 Samuel 5:5;  1 Maccabees 11:4); and it was before its shrine in this city that the captured ark was deposited and triumphed over the idol ( 1 Samuel 5:1-9). Ashdod was assigned to Judah; but many centuries passed before this and the other Philistine towns were subdued [PHILISTINES]; and it appears never to have been permanently in possession of the Judahites, although it was dismantled by Uzziah, who built towns in the territory of Ashdod ( 1 Chronicles 26:6). It is mentioned to the reproach of the Jews returned from captivity, that they married wives of Ashdod, with the result that the children of these marriages spoke a mongrel dialect, half Hebrew and half in the speech of Ashdod ( Nehemiah 13:23-24). These facts indicate the ancient importance of Ashdod. It was indeed a place of great strength; and being on the usual military route between Syria and Egypt, the possession of it became an object of importance in the wars between Egypt and the great northern powers. Hence it was secured by the Assyrians before invading Egypt ( Isaiah 1:1, sq.); and at a later date it was taken by Psammetichus, after a siege of twenty-nine years, being the longest siege on record. The destruction of Ashdod was foretold by the prophets ( Jeremiah 25:20;  Amos 1:8;  Amos 3:9;  Zephaniah 2:4;  Zechariah 9:6); and was accomplished by the Maccabees ( 1 Maccabees 5:68;  1 Maccabees 10:77-84;  1 Maccabees 11:4). It was, however, rebuilt, and was included in the dominion of Herod the Great, who bequeathed it, with two other towns, to his sister Salome. The evangelist Philip was found at Ashdod after he had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch ( Acts 8:40). Azotus early became the seat of a bishopric; and we find a bishop of Azotus present at the councils of Nice, of Chalcedon, A.D. 359, of Seleucia, and of Jerusalem, A.D. 536.

Ashdod exists at present as an inconsiderable village. The site is marked by ancient ruins, such as broken arches, and partly buried fragments of marble columns; there is also what has the appearance of a very ancient khan, the principal chamber of which had obviously, at some former period, been used as a Christian chapel. The place is still called Esdud.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ash´dod ( אשׁדּוד , 'ashdōdh  ; Ἀζωτός , Azōtós  ; modern Esdūd ): 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 ,  Joshua 15:47 ). 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 ,  1 Samuel 5:2 ). 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 bc, 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 ( Amos 1:8 ), and Jeremiah refers to "the remnant of Ashdod" as though it had continued weak until his day ( Jeremiah 25:20 ). Zephaniah ( Zephaniah 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 ,  Nehemiah 13:24 ). In the Maccabean period we are told that Judas and Jonathan both took it and purified it of idolatry (1 Macc 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 ad 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.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

A maritime Philistine city 20 m. S. of Jaffa, seat of the Dagon worship.