the Week of Proper 27 / Ordinary 32
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Bible Dictionaries
Ashkelon
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or ASHKELON (Greek Ascalon ). A city of the Philistine Pentapolis. It is mentioned several times in the Tell el-Amarna correspondence. According to Joshua 13:3 , it was left unconquered; but the interpolated passage, Judges 1:18 , enumerates it among the places captured by Israel. It is doubtful whether Samson took the spoil with which he paid his wages ( Judges 14:19 ) from this city, which is two days’ journey from Timnath, or from a similarly styled village, much nearer at hand, now possibly represented in name by Khurbet ‘Askalan , near Tell Zakariya . It is referred to in the story of the return of the ark ( 1 Samuel 6:17 ), and in David’s lament ( 2 Samuel 1:20 ), and with the other Philistine cities is made an object of denunciation by various prophets. Here Jonathan Maccabæus was honourably received ( 1Ma 10:86; 1Ma 11:60 ), and it was the birthplace of Herod the Great. It was captured by the Crusaders, but recaptured by the Muslims after the battle of Hattin. Extensive remains of ancient buildings still exist on the site, which retains the name of ‘Askalan : numerous fragments of statues etc., are found by the natives from time to time.
R. A. S. Macalister.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Ashkelon'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/a/ashkelon.html. 1909.
