GAZA, a City of the Philistins, by Jos. xv. 47. & 1 Sam. vi. 15.Joshua made part of the Tribe of Judah. It was one of the five Principalities of the Philistins, situated towards the southern extremity of the promised Land. In the Hebrew text it is called Aza or Hasa with עזהHazah or Gasa.an Hain or Ain, which the Septuagint express sometimes by a G. Stephens the Geographer says, that in his time the Syrians still called it Aza. It was situated between Raphia and Askelon. The advantageous situation of Gaza was the cause of the many revolutions to which it has been subject. It first of all belonged to the Philistins, and then to the Hebrews. It recovered its liberty in the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz, and was reconquered by Hezekiah. It was 2 Kings xviii. 8.subject to the Chaldæans, who conquered Syria and Phœnicia. Afterwards it fell into the hands of the Persians. They were masters of it, when Alexander besieged it, Vide Plutarch. in Alexandro, & alios. In the year of the World 3672, be-took and destroyed fore J. C. 328, before the Vulgar Æra 332. 1 Macc. xi. 61. xiii. 43. Acts viii. 26.it. That, or at least the little Town of Gaza situated on the sea, and otherwise called Majuma, was rebuilt.
It was afterwards possessed by the Kings of Egypt1. Antiochus the Great took and sacked it2. The Asmoneans or Maccabees took it several times from the Syrians. Alexander Jannæus, King of the Jews, took and destroyed it3. Gabinius repaired it4; and there are coins to be seen, which were stamped in this City. Augustus gave it to Herod the Great5; but it was not under the obedience of his son Archelaüs. St. Luke says, that Gaza in his time was a desart place; but he meant, in all probability, the great City of Gaza, situated upon a Mountain twenty miles from the sea; and Arrian. l. 2. de Expedit. Alexandri.not Majuma, or little Gaza, which was very populous. The Emperor Constantine gave Majuma the name of Constantia, in honour of his son, and granted it the honours and privileges of a City independant upon Gaza. But the Emperor Julian deprived Sozomen. l. 3. c. 5.it both of its name and privileges.
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