Gaza

A Philistine city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It still exists but is now called Chazzah. It is the most important city on the Gaza Strip in the southwest corner of Israel. Gaza is best known as the city where Samson died. He pulled down the pillars of the temple of Dagon and killed the crowd inside—including himself. The city was not fully defeated by the Israelites until the time of Hezekiah, about 713 BC. Gaza is mentioned in the New Testament only once. Philip the evangelist told an Ethiopian about Jesus on the road that ran from Jerusalem to Gaza.