1 Samuel 5:1

1 Samuel 5:1-12. Chastisement of the Philistines for the Removal of the Ark

1. Ashdod Ashdod (in Greek Azotus, Acts 8:40), one of the five cities of the Philistine league, was situated on an eminence near the sea, about 35 miles W. of Jerusalem. It was a place of great strength, and special importance, from its position on the high road between Syria and Egypt. It was assigned to Judah (Joshua 15:47), but never conquered till the reign of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6). The Assyrian king Sargon's -Tartan" (i.e. General) took it about b.c. 716, and about b.c. 630 it proved its strength by resisting Psammitichus king of Egypt for 29 years. It was destroyed by Jonathan Maccabaeus (1Ma 10:84), but rebuilt after the Roman conquest of Judaea. The village of Es-dûdstill preserves the ancient name and site.