The name Gaza is inaccurate anyway

Submitted by sara (United States), Dec 11, 2012 at 20:51

Hi DNM-

If I am not mistaken, this entire discussion is based on the word Gaza, but the actual name of the location, as mentioned in the bible and called in modern Hebrew, is actually Aza. I am not sure where the G came in, it would be interesting to look into.

Here are some Biblical facts I found here: http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/otgaza.htm

• Gaza is one of the oldest cities in the world, mentioned specifically by name very nearly at the beginning of The Bible (Genesis 10:19).
• It is also called Azzah, which is its name in Hebrew, meaning strong.
• Its earliest-known residents were the Avvites. They were conquered by the Caphtorites who settled in their place (Deuteronomy 2:23).
• After God directed the Israelites to enter The Promised Land, Gaza was allotted to the tribe of Judah, today known as the Jews. (Joshua 15:20,47).
• Gaza was one of the five major Philistine cities that each gave a sin offering to stop the plague that God inflicted upon them for their capture of The Ark Of The Covenant (1 Samuel 5:1-6, 6:1-2, 6:17).
• After his betrayal by Delilah, Samson was blinded and taken prisoner to Gaza (Judges 16:18,21). It was there that he died when he pulled down the pillars of the Philistine temple upon himself and 3,000 Philistines (Judges 16:25-30)
• By the time of King Solomon, Gaza marked the border of the Israelite kingdom (1 Kings 4:24)
• With The Lord's help, King Hezekiah defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza in his efforts to re-establish Judah's independence (2 Kings 18:5-8)
• The prophet Jeremiah spoke of Gaza's devastation by the Egyptians (Jeremiah 47:1-5).
• The prophets Amos and Zephaniah also warned of its destruction (Amos 1:6-7, Zephaniah 2:4)

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