Ekron
The northernmost of the five main Philistine cities.
Description
This city is mentioned, but not visited.
Notable events
Accompanied only by John, Jesus walks towards Ekron.[1]
A few days later, Peter asks John:"Tell me: what happened to you at Ekron?"[2]But neither John, nor Jesus mention it then. It is much later[3] that we learn that between Jabneel and Ekron, John, first among all the apostles, performed a miracle.
The various anathemas Against the Philistine cities (see below) explain the tense relations between the Jews and Philistines which degenerate at Ascalon when Judas reprimands them during an unfortunate sermon.[4]
Its name
Eqrôn – Ekron – Accaron.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
GRM 219.5 GRM 222 [1]GRM 503.7
Learn more about this place
The worship of Baal-Zebul (Beelzebub) was celebrated here. The people of Ashdod, then those of Gath, were afraid to keep the Ark they had taken in battle and sent it to Ekron, from where it returned to Israel.[5] Later, the Philistines, fleeing after Goliath’s defeat, were pursued to its gates.[6] The prophets Jeremiah,[7] Amos,[8] Zephaniah[9] and Zechariah[10] announced the judgment Against Ekron and the other Philistine cities.
City mentioned on three other occasions, during biblical references:
- By John and Thomas at Ashkelon: “Seeing this Ashkelon will be terrified, and Gaza will be seized with trembling, so will Ekron, at the ruin of her prospects. The king will vanish from Gaza”[11]
- By the healed Samaritan leper near Ephraim: "Do not behave like foolish Ahaziah who sent messengers to consult the god of Ekron when the Most High was in Israel."[12]
- Finally by Jesus, near Jericho: "I will now give you the same reply that Elijah gave Ahaziah: “Since you sent messengers to consult Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, as if there were no God in Israel to be consulted, the bed you have got into you will not get out of, and you are certainly going to die in your sin".[13]
Explore
31° 51’ 36’’ N / 34° 49’ 23’’ E
Notes and references
Article partially based on the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel According to Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère.