Gaza

Gay´zuh

A settlement about three miles from the Mediterranean coast marking the southern border of Canaan. It was captured by the tribe of Judah (Judg 1:18) and was included in the allotment given to that tribe (Josh 15:47). It was part of the Philistine Pentapolis, the southernmost city in that league of five cities (Josh 13:3; 1Sam 6:17; Jer 25:20), and played an important role in the Samson saga (Judg 13-16). The city was later taken by Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria. We also have an account of Hezekiah’s conquest of the city (2Kgs 18:9).