The city of Gaza is mentioned multiple times in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Gaza was strategically situated between Egypt and lands to the north and east. Throughout its history, control of Gaza frequently changed hands between various powers in the region.
In the Old Testament, Gaza is first mentioned during the time of Abraham as one of the cities whose king joined an alliance against the invading kings who had taken Lot captive (Genesis 14:1-2). At the time, Gaza was ruled by the Philistines. Later, when the Israelites returned to Canaan from Egypt, Gaza was one of five principal Philistine cities that were formidable enemies of Israel (Joshua 13:3). The continuing conflict between the Philistines and Israelites, and the eventual Israelite conquest of Gaza, are chronicled in the book of Judges (Judges 1:18, 3:3, 6:4, 16:1-3, 21).
Samson famously died in Gaza after being captured there by the Philistines when he was betrayed by Delilah (Judges 16:21-31). The ark of the covenant was also captured by the Philistines and taken to Gaza before being sent away again due to tumours that afflicted the people there (1 Samuel 5:8-9). Gaza remained under Philistine control until the time of David, who eventually defeated them and took the coastal area (1 Kings 4:24).
Later, during the divided monarchy, Gaza came under attack from Pharaoh Neco of Egypt while King Josiah of Judah attempted to intercept him there. Josiah was killed in the ensuing battle (2 Kings 23:29). The prophets Amos, Zephaniah and Zechariah all mention Gaza in prophecies against the Philistines who inhabited the city at the time (Amos 1:6-7, Zephaniah 2:4, Zechariah 9:5). Jeremiah also foretold Gaza’s destruction by Babylon (Jeremiah 25:20, 47:1-5).
In the intertestamental period, Gaza eventually came under Greek rule after Alexander the Great’s conquests. It was an important Hellenistic city in the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes plundered Gaza before being repelled from Egypt. Later, the Maccabees attacked Gaza on their way to fight in the north during the Maccabean Revolt against Seleucid rule (1 Maccabees 11:60-62).
In the New Testament, Gaza is mentioned only once, in Acts 8. After the stoning of Stephen, many Christians fled Jerusalem and Phillip the evangelist travelled to “the city of Gaza” where he met and converted the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). By this time, Gaza had come under Roman control. The main Roman coastal road, the Via Maris, passed through the city, increasing its importance as a trade center. Several centuries later, Gaza became an early center of Christianity and was made a bishopric in the early church.
In summary, key biblical events associated with Gaza include:
- Part of the Philistine Pentapolis that contended with Israel (Joshua 13:3)
- Samson taken there by the Philistines and died pulling down the temple of Dagon (Judges 16:21-31)
- The ark of the covenant taken there by the Philistines (1 Samuel 5:8-9)
- Site of battle between Pharaoh Neco and King Josiah (2 Kings 23:29)
- Prophesied against by Amos, Zephaniah and Zechariah (Amos 1:6-7, Zephaniah 2:4, Zechariah 9:5)
- Destruction prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:20, 47:1-5)
- Attacked by Judas Maccabeus (1 Maccabees 11:60-62)
- Visited by Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch after Christ’s ascension (Acts 8:26-40)
Overall, Gaza’s strategic location ensured that it played an important role at various key junctures in biblical history. As an urban center on the coastal highway between Egypt and Mesopotamia, Gaza was significant commercially. Militarily, it was also a strategic prize that different powers sought to control at different times. Biblically, it is most prominently mentioned for the roles it played in the history of Samson and the ark of the covenant, as well as in prophecies and battles involving the Philistines.
The long history of Gaza, with its changing rulers, meant that it frequently came into direct biblical focus at pivotal moments in Israel’s history – from the period of the judges, to the united and divided monarchies, exilic and post-exilic times. The city’s notoriety as a Philistine stronghold led to various famous biblical events occurring there. Though only briefly mentioned in the New Testament, it continued to be an important coastal town in the Roman period. As such, Gaza occupies a unique place in the biblical narrative through the different eras covered in Scripture.
Gaza in the Period of the Judges
The book of Judges records Gaza’s prominence as one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, the others being Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3). These cities constituted the Philistine Pentapolis and were bitter enemies of Israel during the period of the judges.
Judges portrays the Philistines as “lords” over Israel whose presence and military strength God used to punish Israel during cycles of disobedience, oppression, repentance and deliverance (Judges 3:31, 10:6-7, 13:1). The Israelites were subservient to the Philistines and even had to rely on Philistine blacksmiths to sharpen their agricultural tools (1 Samuel 13:19-21).
Samson’s exploits recorded in Judges 13-16 prominently feature Gaza in two episodes. First, after smiting the Philistines “hip and thigh”, Samson escapes to the rock of Etam. The Philistines then descend on the tribe of Judah, threatening harm unless Samson is given over to them. Samson agrees to be bound and taken to Gaza, presumably to be killed, but instead escapes his captors by ripping off the city gates and carrying them away (Judges 16:1-3).
Later, Samson’s relationship with Delilah in the Valley of Sorek, likely near Gaza, leads to his downfall. After Delilah cuts his hair in his sleep, the Philistines capture Samson and bring him to Gaza where they imprison him. While imprisoned, Samson’s hair begins to grow back. He is brought into Dagon’s temple for the Philistines to mock, but asks God for strength to take vengeance. Samson pushes over the pillars supporting the temple and perishes along with many Philistines leaders, winning a measure of victory in death (Judges 16:21-31).
These stories reveal Gaza’s significance as a Philistine stronghold and center of Philistine religious and political power. Samson’s lone exploits harassing the Philistines would make Gaza an obvious place for them to attempt retribution. The temple of Dagon, the chief Philistine deity, was located there and drew Philistine nobles and leaders, perhaps partially explaining the strategic nature of Samson’s suicidal final act.
Gaza in the United Monarchy
During the united monarchy under Saul, David and Solomon, the coastal region including Gaza came under Israelite control as David broke Philistine dominance and pushed the borders of Israel to the sea (2 Samuel 8:1). However, the Philistine cities retained some distinct identity and autonomy within David’s kingdom. Achish, king of the Philistine city of Gath, lived in peace with David and provided refuge for him when Saul pursued him (1 Samuel 27:1-7).
Later, when David was king in Jerusalem and Israelite power was supreme, Gaza provided chariot horses and supplied tribute to Solomon, retaining its commercial importance (1 Kings 4:24, 10:25). However, the Philistine cities also revolted against Solomon’s son Rehoboam after the kingdom divided, indicating the region was never fully subjugated or content with Israelite rule (2 Chronicles 21:16-17).
Of note during the united monarchy is the capture of the ark of the covenant by the Philistines and its brief detention in Gaza before being sent away again by ox cart due to the outbreak of tumours (1 Samuel 5:8-9). This demonstrates that even in times of Philistine subjugation, the coastal cities maintained independence and power that even led them at times to gain the upper hand against their Israelite overlords.
Gaza in the Divided Monarchy
After Solomon’s death and the division of the kingdom, Gaza and the coastal region reasserted independence and frequently changed hands as the powers in the north and south vied for control of trade routes and strategic strongholds. Local kings formed unstable coalitions with other city-states that were often subordinate to or in outright rebellion against the Israelite kings ruling from Samaria and Jerusalem.
Ahaziah of Judah allied himself with Joram of Israel along with the king of Gaza to wage war against Moab (2 Kings 3:4-27). Later, Pharaoh Neco of Egypt travelled through the coastal region and Gaza to fight against Assyria. King Josiah of Judah opposed him and was slain at Megiddo, likely having attempted to intercept Neco before he reached Gaza (2 Kings 23:29).
The prophets Amos, Zephaniah and Zechariah pronounce judgement specifically on Gaza alongside other Philistine cities for their opposition to Israel and unlawful capture of cities in the Judean foothills and Negev (Amos 1:6-7, Zephaniah 2:4, Zechariah 9:5). Gaza’s strategic location ensured it played a pivotal role in the regional power struggles that occurred following the split of the united kingdom.
Gaza in the Exilic and Post-Exilic Period
The late prophetic books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel predict Gaza’s destruction alongside other Philistine cities by the invading Babylonian armies under Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 47:1-7, Ezek 25:15-17). Jeremiah laments, “Wail, O gate! Howl, O city!” (Jer 47:2), signifying the utter devastation to befall Philistia. Ezekiel likewise prophesies that God will “cut off the Cherethites [Philistines]” in judgement (Ezek 25:16).
After Babylon’s conquest, Gaza came under Persian control when Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC. It later came under the growing influence of Greek culture after Alexander the Great’s conquests in 332 BC during the period between the Old and New Testaments.
The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus records that Alexander besieged Gaza for five months before finally conquering it in 332 BC. He reportedly had most of the male population killed and the women and children taken captive. Alexander sold 30,000 of its denizens into slavery. Thus its earlier destruction by Babylon was repeated two centuries later under Alexander, contributing to the eclipse of Philistine dominance in the region.
Gaza in the New Testament
By New Testament times, Gaza had become a prosperous trade city located along the trunk of the major coastal highway leading from Antioch to Egypt, the Via Maris. The city had been under the control of the Seleucid kings of Syria but came under Roman influence by the 1st century AD.
The New Testament mentions Gaza only once, in Acts 8:26-40, where Philip the evangelist encounters an Ethiopian eunuch in a chariot along the desert road to Gaza and tells him about Christ. The eunuch comes to faith in Jesus and is baptized by Philip before continuing on his journey. This story demonstrates Gaza’s role as a thriving commercial town where different cultures and religions encountered one another. The fledgling church would build on such cosmopolitan centers to spread the gospel across the Roman world and beyond.
Later Christian tradition states that after preaching in Samaria, Philip travelled to Carthage before becoming bishop of Tralles in Asia Minor. Thus, Philip’s ministry provides a biblical link between the church’s spread in Judea and Samaria with Gaza representing one of the first footholds of Christianity among the Gentile nations. The Gaza road was both a commercial and evangelistic highway according to Acts.
Significance of Gaza in Biblical History
In summary, Gaza’s unique geographic, economic, cultural and political status along the southwestern coastal route ensured it played an integral part in biblical history at key junctures:
- As one of five main Philistine cities contending with Israel from Joshua to David
- Site of Samson’s imprisonment and death as a highpoint of Philistine ascendancy
- Brief detention of the captured ark of the covenant revealed shifting power dynamics
- Supplied horses and tribute to Solomon as Philistia was brought under Israelite control
- Strategic location made it a battleground between regional powers in both Testaments
- Prophesied against symbolically as representative of Philistine opposition to God’s people
- Part of Alexander the Great’s conquests bringing Greek influence
- Site of gospel outreach by Philip to a prominent Gentile in Acts
- Later an important Mediterranean bishopric and center of Christian thought
As such, Gaza provides a link through many different eras of biblical history, being integrally involved in key military, economic, prophetic and gospel events that shaped God’s dealings with his people. Its strategic location guaranteed prominence and made this small port city loom large and stand out repeatedly at crucial junctures in Scripture.