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Gaza

Illustration of Gaza

Gaza was the southernmost of the five principal Philistine cities and a major stop on the ancient coastal trade route between Egypt and Canaan. It is best remembered as the city where Samson, betrayed and blinded by the Philistines, was held as a prisoner and forced to grind grain in the prison house - until in a final act of strength, he pulled down the temple of Dagon upon himself and the assembled Philistine lords. Gaza's long history as a Philistine stronghold made it a recurring point of conflict throughout Israel's history, from the conquest under Joshua through the era of the judges and beyond.

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Details

Region
Philistia
Modern Location
Gaza City
Strongest connections in Scripture

Key Passages

Samson Carries Off Gaza's Gates

Judges 16:1-3

In an early display of his supernatural strength, Samson tears the city gates of Gaza from their posts and carries them off - a foretaste of the greater destruction to come.

T1hen went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.

2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. 3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

Samson's Final Act at Gaza

Judges 16:21-30

Blinded and mocked in Gaza's temple of Dagon, Samson prays for strength one last time and brings the building down on himself and the assembled Philistine leaders.

B21ut the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. 23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. 25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. 26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. 27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. 28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

Key Chapters