Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name (Deut. 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jer. 25:20), strong, a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable for its early importance as the chief centre of a great commercial traffic with Egypt. It is one of the oldest cities of the world (Gen. 10:19; Josh. 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims (Deut. 2:23; Josh. 13:2, 3), a Philistine tribe. In the
division of the land it fell to the lot of Judah (Josh. 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was the southernmost of the five great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a trespass-offering unto the Lord (1 Sam. 6:17). Its gates were carried away by Samson (Judg. 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and “did grind in the prison house.” Here he also pulled down the temple of Dagon, and slew “all the lords of the Philistines,”
himself also perishing in the ruin (Judg. 16:21-30). The prophets denounce the judgments of God against it (Jer. 25:20; 47:5; Amos 1:6, 7; Zeph. 2:4). It is referred to in Acts 8:26. Philip is here told to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles south-west of Jerusalem), “which is desert”, i.e., the “desert road,” probably by Hebron, through the desert hills of Southern Judea. (See SAMSON.) It is noticed on monuments as early
as B.C. 1600. Its small port is now called el-Mineh.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(the fortified; the strong) (properly Azzah), one of the five chief cities of the Philistines. It is remarkable for its continuous existence and importance from the very earliest times. The secret of this unbroken history is to be found in the situation of Gaza. It is the last town in the southwest of Palestine, on the frontier towards Egypt. The same peculiarity of situation has made Gaza important in a military sense. Its name means “the
strong;” and this was well elucidated in its siege by Alexander the Great, which lasted five months. In the conquest of Joshua the territory of Gaza is mentioned as one which he was not able to subdue. (Joshua 10:41; 11:22; 13:3) It was assigned to the tribe of Judah, (Joshua 15:47) and that tribe did obtain possession of it, (Judges 1:18) but did not hold it long, (Judges 3:3; 13:1) and apparently it continued through the time of Samuel, Saul
and David to be a Philistine city. 1Sam 6:17; 14:52; 31:1; 2Sam 21:15 Solomon became master of “Azzah,” (1 Kings 4:24) but in after times the same trouble with the Philistines recurred. (2 Chronicles 21:16; 26:6; 28:18) The passage where Gaza is mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 8:26) is full of interest. It is the account of the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch on his return from Jerusalem to Egypt. Gaza is the modern Ghuzzeh, a Mohammedan
town of about 16,000 inhabitants, situated partly on an oblong hill of moderate height and partly on the lower ground. The climate of the place is almost tropical, but it has deep wells of excellent water. There are a few palm trees in the town, and its fruit orchards are very productive; but the chief feature of the neighborhood is the wide-spread olive grove to the north and northeast
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
GA'ZA (Hebrew Azzah, strong), the chief of the five cities of the Philistines, 50 miles south-west of Jerusalem, 3 miles from the Mediterranean, and 10 miles from Ascalon; now called Ghuzzeh. History. — Gaza is one of the oldest cities in the world; was peopled by the descendants of Ham, Gen 10:19; by the Anakim, Josh 11:22; given to Judah, Josh 15:47; the scene of Samson's exploits, Jud 16; under Solomon's rule, and called Azzah, 1 Kgs 4:24;
smitten by Egypt, Jer 47:1, Isa 47:5; prophesied against. Am 1:6-7; Zeph 2:4; Zech 9:5; noticed in N.T. only in Acts 8:26; a chief stronghold of paganism and the worship of the god Marnas (Dagon), whose temples were destroyed, a.d. 400; taken by the Arabs, a.d. 634; restored by the Crusaders, a.d. 1149; plundered by Saladin, a.d. 1170, and again in a.d. 1187; taken by Napoleon, 1799; has now about 18,000 population, mostly Moslems. The town is
now without walls or gates, but is in the midst of olive-orchards. Conder thinks the ancient town stood on the hill where most of the modern town now stands. The place is full of reminiscences of Samson and his tragic end. The pillars are shown which he pulled down. The inhabitants are chiefly Moslems; but there is also a Greek church, and a Protestant school in connection with the Jerusalem mission. See Philistine.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
strong; a goat