Ashdod was one of the five significant Philistine cities (1 Samuel 6:17). The other four were Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, and Ekron. Three were along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and Ashdod was the one of the three that was farthest north. When the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, they took it first to Ashdod, but their pagan god Dagon fell before it (1 Samuel 1--5). Although in the conquest of the Promised Land, Ashdod was assigned to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:46, 47), it was not conquered until the time of King Uzziah of Judah (2 Chronicles 26:6). From intertestament times on, Ashdod was called Azotus. After Philip baptized the Ethiopian official, he went next to Azotus and preached the Gospel there (Acts 8:40). Archaeological excavations at Ashdod have uncovered remains from many periods of history.

israel; ashdod; philistine; city; dagon; azotus; ark of the covenant; mediterranean sea; judah; Joshua 15:46; 47; uzziah; 2 Chronicles 26:6; archaeology; antiquity; artifacts; remains; ruin; cities; ruins