Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 15:45
Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
45. Ekron. Group IV. includes the Philistine line of coast, and includes three chief cities:
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Here and in the following verses are contained all the cities of the Philistines, among which are Gath and Askelon, which peradventure are here omitted, because they were not at this time places of such power and eminency as afterwards they were, but were the daughters of some of these following cities, though afterwards the daughter might overtop the mother, as is usual.
Her towns, Heb. her daughters, i.e. lesser cities, or great towns, subject to Ektons jurisdiction.
Her villages, i.e. lesser towns or hamlets.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Ekron, with her towns and her villages. One of the five principalities of the Philistines, which with two more next mentioned, though they fell to the lot of the tribe of Judah, were never possessed by them; for which reason perhaps Gath and Ascalon are not mentioned, and these are put for the rest; see Jos 13:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(45) Ekron was afterwards given to Dan (Jos. 19:43).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
45. The fourth group lay on the Philistine coast, and were then in the possession of the Philistines.
Ekron See chap. 13, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ Ekron, with her towns (daughters) and her villages, from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages. Ashdod, her towns and her villages, Gaza, her towns and her villages, to the Brook of Egypt and the Great Sea and its border.’
We must remember that all these cities, both those mentioned before and those described here, were allotted to Judah for her to possess. (These Philistine cities were specifically stated as not being possessed during Joshua’s lifetime – Jos 13:3). As with the other tribes mentioned later it was their responsibility under God to go forward and possess them. That they failed in God’s purpose history has revealed, and the Book of Judges makes clear the reason for the failure, loss of impetus, failure to fully observe the covenant and sin, even though in the time of Samuel some of them appear to have been in Israel’s hands (1Sa 7:14).
“Ekron, with her towns (daughters) and her villages, from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.” The sea is of course the Mediterranean, ‘the great Sea’. Ekron, along with Ashdod and Gaza, was one of the five major Philistine cities. This use of ‘daughters’ is reminiscent of Num 21:25; Num 32:42. For ‘and her villages’ compare Gen 25:16; 1Ch 6:56. The description indicates Ekron’s sphere of influence. It should be noted that it is elsewhere described as one of the cities that had been ‘taken from Israel’ by the Philistines (1Sa 7:14). That may be referring to Jdg 1:18. It was on the border with Dan (Jos 19:43).
If Ekron is to be identified with Khirbet al-Muqanna‘ it was occupied in the early bronze age and then not in any density until the early iron age. It was at one stage a walled city of some forty acres.
“Ashdod, her towns and her villages, Gaza, her towns and her villages, to the River (Nahal) of Egypt and the Great Sea and its border.” This boldly makes clear that all Philistine territory was Judah’s by divine right. The River of Egypt was the torrent-wadi of el-‘Arish. The description covers the whole coastal plain within Judah’s boundaries. Ashdod is Tel Ashdod, six kilometres south east of the modern village. It had a principal port (Asudimmu in Akkadian sources) and a temple of Dagon (1Sa 5:1). Gaza was the southernmost of the Philistine cities, and it occupied an important position on the trade routes. It would appear that Joshua possibly captured it (Jos 10:41 – although the reference may only mean that he reached that landmark). The site of the ancient city lies within the modern city. Limited excavation has revealed evidence of both late bronze age and iron age occupation and the presence of Philistine pottery.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ekron: Jos 13:3, 1Sa 5:10, 1Sa 6:17, Amo 1:8, Zep 2:4, Zec 9:5-7
Reciprocal: Jos 15:11 – Ekron Jos 19:43 – Ekron Jdg 1:18 – General 1Sa 17:52 – valley Oba 1:19 – the plain