The town of Ekron was one of the ‘five cities of the Philistines’ (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17-18). It had a history of conflict with Israel from the time that Israel first entered Canaan. It changed hands between the Philistines and the Israelites frequently (see PHILISTIA). The Philistines considered Ekron to be the home of the god Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:2-3; see BEELZEBUL).