1. One of the five royal cities of the Philistines. We read of it as early as Genesis 10:19 as a border of the Canaanites. The Anakim dwelt there, but Judah was able to take Gaza and the coasts thereof. Joshua 11:22; Judges 1:18 . In the time of Samson, however, the Philistines were in possession, and he was made a prisoner there. Judges 16:21 . It was held afterwards by Solomon, 1 Kings 4:24 (where it is called AZZAH, as it is also in Deuteronomy 2:23 and Jeremiah 25:20 ); but had to be taken again by Hezekiah. 2 Kings 18:8 . It was afterwards smitten by Pharaoh. Jeremiah 47:1,5 . Having been a stronghold of the Philistines, woes were pronounced against it by the prophets. Amos 1:6,7; Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5 .
Gaza was the S.W. frontier town of Palestine, and did a large trade with the caravans to and from Egypt. It was taken by Cambyses, the Ptolemies, and by Alexander the Great, and was held in the twelfth century by the Knights Templars. Gaza is now under Palestinian rule. It is situate at 31 30' N, 34 28' E . Acts 8:26 signifies that the way from Jerusalem to Gaza was desert. This is supposed to refer to the road through Hebron, for after leaving that city it is comparatively desert.
2. City of Ephraim, 1 Chronicles 7:28; but here many MSS read Ayyah.