Gaza

Gaza

City

CityOld Testament & New Testament
31.5000°N, 34.4667°E View on Map

About Gaza

Gaza was one of the five major Philistine cities on the Mediterranean coast. Samson was taken here after his capture, where he pushed down the pillars of the temple of Dagon, killing himself and thousands of Philistines. Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza.

History of Gaza

Conquestc. 1400 BC

Gaza is assigned to Judah but Philistines continue to hold it

JOS 15:47, JDG 1:18
Judgesc. 1070 BC

Samson carries away the gates of Gaza

JDG 16:1-3
Judgesc. 1070 BC

Samson is imprisoned and dies in Gaza's temple of Dagon

JDG 16:21-30
Prophetsc. 760 BC

Amos prophesies judgment against Gaza for slave trading

AMO 1:6-7
New Testamentc. AD 35

Philip meets the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza

ACT 8:26-39

Notable Characters in Gaza

Biblical Significance of Gaza

Gaza was one of the five major Philistine cities, located on the Mediterranean coast. It was a center of resistance against Israel and where Samson met his end. The prophets repeatedly condemned Gaza for slave trading and violence. Yet the 'desert road to Gaza' became the setting for one of the earliest Gentile conversions—the Ethiopian eunuch baptized by Philip.

Key Verses about Gaza

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