Gaza, Ashkelon, Asdod and Ekron Zephaniah 2:4

As Zephaniah continued his prophesy concerning Judah and Jerusalem, he called them to “gather together” “before the decree, the day and the anger” of the LORD went forth. He further instructed them to “seek the LORD”, “righteousness” and “meekness” that they “may be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger”. In chapter two and verse four of his prophesy, Zephaniah turns his attention toward the judgment of the heathen nations which surrounded Judah including, “Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron” where we read:

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

The verse begins, “For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation:” Zephaniah began with the phrase “For Gaza” which means “the strong” and was “a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean” “shall be forsaken” or “left, loosed, forsaken and let alone” “and Ashkelon” which means “a fire of infamy: I shall be weighed” and was “a maritime city of the Philistines, southwest of Jerusalem” “a desolation” or “devastation or waste”. Though Gaza and Ashkelon which surrounded Judah may have thought themselves exempt from God's punishment, their fate was to be “loosed” and “wasted”.

The verse continues, “they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.” Zephaniah went on to add, “they shall drive out” or “expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble and cast up” “Ashdod” which means “powerful” and was “a major Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea west from Jerusalem, modern Esdud” “at the noon day” or “midday or noon”. Zephaniah continued, “and Ekron” which means “emigration” and was “the most northerly of the five principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan” “shall be rooted up” or “plucked up, cut or hamstrung”. Even these two “powerful” and “emigration” cities were to be driven out and uprooted from their homesteads in “the great day of the LORD”.

When we consider Zephaniah's words concerning these four surrounding cities of Judah, our minds may think of the thoroughness of the punishment from the LORD. Though Judah and Jerusalem had forsaken the LORD and His ways, these pagan gentile cities had never followed after Him. Judgment was to come upon Judah, and the overflow of punishment would reach “Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron” as well. There was to be no exemption, and all those who were opposed to the LORD were to fall beneath His punishing hand. The only escape was to repent of their ways and turn or return to a relationship with Him. Thus it is today. When a person, whether familiar with the LORD and His ways or not, turns or returns to the LORD Jesus Christ God's Son, forgiveness is available, and judgment is put away. May all who read these words take heed and obey Him before there is no time to choose.

Next time Zephaniah shares about “the sea coast”, “Cherethites” and “Canaan”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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