Advanced Search

Gaza Strip Historical Information


Question:

Hello. I wonder if you could give me some historical information about the Gaza Strip. Thank you!



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

Gaza, part of the biblical "land of the Philistines" was originally promised to the Jewish nation who had been freed from Egypt and wandered in the desert for 40 years. It was intended to be part of the region owned by Judah. However, Gaza was one of the regions that Joshua did not conquer. The verse prophetically states "they will be a snare and an obstical to you, a lash in your sides and thorns in your eyes."

Gaza was the place where Samson toppled the idolatrous Temple of Dagon on his enemies, giving his life in the process. Gaza was first conquered for Israel by King David, and subsequently fell to the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Babylonians, Persians and Greeks. But in the days of King David and throughout the first Temple period it was part of Israel. In Jesus' day, it was part of the Hasmonean Kingdom that ended with Herod the Great. For nearly 2000 years it was conquered by numerous powers.

By the way, in Hebrew the word is pronounced "Aza", without a G.


Similar Questions
History > Time-Line
Jewish History Timeline
Hammurabi’s i-Code
What Year Is It?
Israel > Time-Line
Jewish History Timeline
Have a question?
 
Gateways - Your Key to Jewish Continuity

AskTheRabbi.org is a service of the Gateways Organization © 2024
Technical problems? Please contact the AskTheRabbi Support team