Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

Baldness is come upon Gaza ... how long wilt thou cut thyself? Palestine is represented as a female who has torn off her hair and cut her flesh, the paganish () token of mourning ().

Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley - the long strip of low plain occupied by the Philistines along the Mediterranean, west of the mountains of Judea. The Septuagint read 'Anakim,' the remains of whom were settled in those regions (). Joshua dislodged them, so that none were left but in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (). But the parallel (), "Ashkelon ... the seashore," establishes the English version here, "Ashkelon ... their valley."

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