Biblical places
Gaza
The southernmost of the five Philistine cities, where the blinded Samson was imprisoned before pulling down the temple of Dagon and dying (Judges 16). The ancient city lies beneath modern Gaza City's old quarter, limiting excavation.
Sources and location confidence
- Location confidence
- High
- Gaza City (Old City)
- 31.5189, 34.4486
Since the ancient city has remained continuously inhabited, its location is approximated to the Old City area rather than a precise tell coordinate, and there is a slight deviation between the two sources.
Related Bible passages
These are selected indexed references, not an exhaustive list of every mention in the Bible.
Genesis 10:19
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
Joshua 10:41
And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
Judges 1:18
Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
1 Samuel 6:17
And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
2 Kings 18:8
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
1 Chronicles 7:28
And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
Jeremiah 47:1
The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
Amos 1:6
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: