Ashkelon

In Bible versions:

Ashkelon: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV

a town of the Philistines between Ashdod and Gaza (OS)

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NET Glossary: Array

NETBible Maps:

Google Maps: Ashkelon (31° 39´, 34° 32´);
OpenBible: (Flickr/Panoramio) Ashkelon; 

Hebrew

Strongs #0831: Nwlqva 'Ashq@lown

Askelon or Ashkelon = "the fire of infamy: I shall be weighed"

1) a maritime city of the Philistines, southwest of Jerusalem

831 'Ashqlown ash-kel-one'

probably from 8254 in the sense of weighing-place (i.e. mart); Ashkelon, a place in Palestine: KJV -- Ashkelon, Askalon.
see HEBREW for 08254

Strongs #0832: ynwlqva 'Eshq@lowniy

Eshkalonites = "the fire of infamy: I shall be weighed"

1) an inhabitant of Ashkelon

832 'Eshqlowniy esh-kel-o-nee'

patrial from 831; Ashkelonite (collectively) or inhabitant of Ashkelon: KJV -- Eshkalonites.
see HEBREW for 0831

Ashkelon [nave]

ASHKELON, called also Askelon. One of the five chief cities of the Philistines, Josh. 13:3.
Captured by the people of Judah, Judg. 1:18.
Samson slays thirty men of, Judg. 14:19.
Golden tumors of, 1 Sam. 6:17.
Prophecies concerning, Jer. 25:20; 47:5, 7; Amos 1:8; Zeph. 2:4, 7; Zech. 9:5.

Ashkelon [ebd]

=Askelon=Ascalon, was one of the five cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 6:17). It stood on the shore of the Mediterranean, 12 miles north of Gaza. It is mentioned on an inscription at Karnak in Egypt as having been taken by king Rameses II., the oppressor of the Hebrews. In the time of the judges (Judg. 1:18) it fell into the possession of the tribe of Judah; but it was soon after retaken by the Philistines (2 Sam. 1:20), who were not finally dispossessed till the time of Alexander the Great. Samson went down to this place from Timnath, and slew thirty men and took their spoil. The prophets foretold its destruction (Jer. 25:20; 47:5, 7). It became a noted place in the Middle Ages, having been the scene of many a bloody battle between the Saracens and the Crusaders. It was beseiged and taken by Richard the Lion-hearted, and "within its walls and towers now standing he held his court." Among the Tell Amarna tablets (see EGYPT) are found letters or official despatches from Yadaya, "captain of horse and dust of the king's feet," to the "great king" of Egypt, dated from Ascalon. It is now called 'Askalan.

ASHKELON [isbe]

ASHKELON - ask'-ke-lon, esh'-ka-lon, as'-ke-lon (the King James Version Eshkalon, (Eshkalonites; Josh 13:3); Askelon, (Jdg 1:18; 1 Sam 6:17; 2 Sam 1:20); 'ashqelon; modern Askelan): A maritime town between Jaffa and Gaza, one of the five chief cities of the Philistines. The Ashkelonites are mentioned by Joshua (Josh 13:3), and the city was taken by the tribe of Judah (Jdg 1:18). One of the golden tumors (the King James Version "emerods") sent back with the ark by the Philistines was from Ashkelon (1 Sam 6:17). David couples Ashkelon with Gath in his lament over Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 1:20) indicating its importance, and it is joined with Gaza, Ashdod and Ekron in the denunciations of Amos (1:7,8). It is referred to in a similar way by Jeremiah (Jer 25:20; 47:5,7). Zephaniah (2:4,7) speaks of the desolation of Ashkelon and Zechariah announces the fear of Ashkelon on the destruction of Tyre (9:5). The city is mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna Letters, and a certain Yitia is referred to as king. It revolted against Rameses II and was subdued, and we have mention of it as being under the rule of Assyria. Tiglath-pileser III names it among his tributaries, and its king, Mitinti, is said to have lost his reason when he heard of the fall of Damascus in 732 BC. It revolted in the reign of Sennacherib and was punished, and remained tributary to Assyria until the decay of that power. In Maccabean times we learn of its capture by Jonathan (1 Macc 10:86; 11:60, the Revised Version (British and American) "Ascalon"). Herod the Great was born there (BJ, III, ii, 1 ff). In the 4th century AD it was the seat of a bishopric. It became subject to the Moslems in the 7th century and was taken by the Crusaders. It was taken in 1187 by Saladin, who dismantled it in 1191 to make it useless to Richard of England, into whose hands it was expected to fall. Richard restored it the next year but it was again destroyed by Saladin. It was an important fortress because of its vicinity to the trade route between Syria and Egypt.

H. Porter

ASHKELON [bridgeway]

The ancient town of Ashkelon has passed on its name to successive settlements on the same site down to the present day. It is situated in the south of Palestine on the Mediterranean coast, and in Old Testament times was one of the ‘five cities of the Philistines’. It was the Philistines’ only port (Josh 13:3; Amos 1:8; Jer 47:7).

At the time of Joshua’s invasion of Canaan, the Israelites captured Ashkelon (Judg 1:18), but the Philistines soon regained it. It remained one of their important towns during the time of their hostility to Israel prior to the reign of David (Judg 14:19; 1 Sam 6:17-18). After David broke their power, the Philistines lived alongside the Israelites without any major conflicts.

Though in many ways subservient to Israelite rulers, Ashkelon and neighbouring towns were still regarded as belonging to the Philistines. At times they suffered from the attacks of various invaders (Jer 47:5; Zeph 2:4). In spite of this interference, Ashkelon was still standing in New Testament times. It was well known as the birthplace of Herod the Great, and benefited from his building projects. (See also PHILISTIA.)