Places of the Bible

Gaza

Philistine plain (coastal, southern) · both · 21 verses

Gaza was one of the five chief Philistine cities, the southernmost, near the coast. It guarded the road toward Egypt. The name appears in Genesis, Deuteronomy, Joshua and 10 more in the King James text.

About Gaza

Gaza was one of the five chief Philistine cities, the southernmost, near the coast. It guarded the road toward Egypt.

Its place in the story

At Gaza Samson carried off the city gates and was later imprisoned, and there he pulled down the temple of Dagon on the Philistines. Gaza appears repeatedly in the accounts of the Philistines and in prophetic oracles.

Gaza in Scripture (KJV)

“And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.”
Genesis 10:19 (KJV)
“And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)”
Deuteronomy 2:23 (KJV)
“And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.”
Joshua 10:41 (KJV)
“There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.”
Joshua 11:22 (KJV)
“Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:”
Joshua 15:47 (KJV)
“Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.”
Judges 1:18 (KJV)
“And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.”
Judges 6:4 (KJV)
“Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.”
Judges 16:1 (KJV)

Gaza is named 21 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.

Where it leads

The story of Samson at Gaza, dying while defeating his enemies, is a faint picture of the greater victory won through the death of Christ.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

People also ask

Where is Gaza in the Bible?

Gaza was one of the five chief Philistine cities, the southernmost, near the coast. It guarded the road toward Egypt. The name appears in Genesis, Deuteronomy, Joshua and 10 more in the King James text.

What happened at Gaza?

At Gaza Samson carried off the city gates and was later imprisoned, and there he pulled down the temple of Dagon on the Philistines. Gaza appears repeatedly in the accounts of the Philistines and in prophetic oracles.

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Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

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