Ashdod or Azotus, one of the five major Philistine cities, was a center of Dagon worship and a target of prophetic judgment.
Also known as Ashdodite · Ashdothites · language of Ashdod,speech of Ashdod · Azotus
Ashdod was one of the five major cities of the Philistine pentapolis. Located in the tribal territory allocated to Judah, it remained predominantly under Philistine control throughout much of its history.
The city first appears in biblical records as one of the few places where the Anakim (giants) survived after Joshua's conquest. Though assigned to Judah, it remained a Philistine stronghold. The city gained particular prominence during the episode of the captured Ark of the Covenant. After defeating the Israelites, the Philistines brought the Ark to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god Dagon. This resulted in the statue of Dagon falling and breaking, followed by an outbreak of tumors among the city's inhabitants, leading them to send the Ark away.
King Uzziah of Judah later broke down the walls of Ashdod and built cities in its territory. The city faced multiple military campaigns, including an Assyrian conquest mentioned by Isaiah. The prophet Amos used Ashdod as a reference point for neighboring nations to witness Egypt's moral corruption.
Several prophets pronounced judgment against Ashdod. Jeremiah included it among the cities to drink the cup of God's wrath. Amos, Zephaniah, and Zechariah all prophesied its downfall or conquest.
In the post-exilic period, Nehemiah noted that some Jews had married women from Ashdod, resulting in their children speaking the language of Ashdod rather than Hebrew. This was viewed as a serious problem during the restoration of Jerusalem.
The city continued to exist into New Testament times, where it is referred to by its Greek name Azotus. It appears in Acts as one of the places where Philip the evangelist preached after his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.
Probably corresponds to modern Esdud in Israel, located between ancient Joppa and Gaza.
Approximate location: 31.803, 34.635 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Stronghold, a Philistine city (Josh. 15:47), about midway between Gaza and Joppa, and 3 miles from the Mediterranean. It was one of the chief seats of the worship of Dagon (1 Sam. 5:5). It belonged to the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:47), but it never came into their actual possession. It was an important city, as it stood on the highroad from Egypt to Palestine, and hence was strongly fortified (2 Chr. 26:6; Isa. 20:1). Uzziah took it, but fifty years after his death it was taken by the Assyrians (B.C. 758). According to Sargon’s record, it was captured by him in B.C. 711. The only reference to it in the New Testament, where it is called Azotus, is in the account of Philip’s return from Gaza (Acts 8:40). It is now called Eshdud.
(a stronghold), (Acts 8:40) one of the five confederate cities of the Philistines situated about 30 miles from the southern frontier of Palestine, three from the Mediterranean Sea, and nearly midway between Gaza and Joppa. It was assigned to the tribe of Judah, (Joshua 15:47) but was never subdued by the Israelites. Its chief importance arose from its position on the high road from Palestine to Egypt. It is now an insignificant village, with no memorials of its ancient importance, but is still called Esdud.
effusion; inclination; theft
ASH'DOD {stronghold, castle), one of the five confederate cities of the Philistines, allotted to Judah, Josh 15:46, Josh 15:47; the chief seat of Dagon-worship. 1 Sam 5. It was 3 miles from the Mediterranean, and midway between Gaza and Joppa. The place is called Azotus in the New Testament. Acts 8:40. It is now a mean village called Esdud; near it are extensive ruins. History. — Built by the Anakim; not taken by Joshua, Josh 11:22; allotted to Judah, Josh 15:47; taken by Uzziah, 2 Chr 26:6; by Tartan or Sargon, Isa 20:1; besieged by Psammetichus and destroyed by the Maccabees; given to Salome after Herod's death; Philip preached there, Acts 8:40; bishops of Azotus or Ashdod are noticed in later history; the city is now occupied by Mohammedans.
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21 verses in 10 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0795
No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.
from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;
from Ekron to the sea, all the cities near Ashdod, along with their villages;
Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.
After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,
When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.
That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.
Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.
And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.”
As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines.
When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.
Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it,
all the mixed tribes; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod and the one who wields the scepter in Ashkelon. I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.
Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.”
For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
A mixed race will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.