The BibleGospel Companion

Ekron

עֶקְרוֹן · eq.ron · H6138עֶקְרוֹנִי · eq.ro.ni · H6139“barrenness; torn away” Hitchcock's 186920 mentions in 8 books, most in Joshua (5)
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style — Ekron
Illustration — not a likeness; generated for Gospel Companion in the app's painting style

Where it is

EnaimEnaimChitlishChitlishCanaanCanaanNaamahNaamahZorahZorahAzekahAzekahEkronabout 30 km across

31.78° N, 34.85° E

Coordinates and map: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding · CC BY 4.0 · drawn without map tiles

Mentioned most in

Joshua · 51 Samuel · 52 Kings · 4Zechariah · 2Judges · 1Jeremiah · 1+ 2 books
Counted from 20 references · STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

About this place

Ekron was one of the five major cities of the Philistines, along with Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Gaza. It was located in the western part of Canaan, near the Mediterranean coast. The city was originally assigned to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:11,45-46) and then to Dan (Joshua 19:43), but the Israelites failed to conquer it (Judges 1:18-19).

During the time of Samuel, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and moved it to Ashdod, then Gath, and finally Ekron (1Sa.5.10). However, God afflicted the Ekronites with tumors, so they sent the Ark back to Israel (1Samuel 6). Later, David killed Goliath, and the Israelites pursued the Philistines as far as Ekron (1Sa.17.52).

The prophets Amos (1:8), Zephaniah (2:4), and Zechariah (9:5,7) all foretold Ekron's destruction as part of God's judgment on the Philistines. King Ahaziah of Israel sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, regarding his illness, showing the city's religious influence (2Ki.1.2-3,16).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

20 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
JoshuaChapter 13: 1 mentionChapter 15: 3 mentionsChapter 19: 1 mention5 mentions
Joshua 13:3from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the…Joshua 15:11and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border…Joshua 15:45Ekron, with its towns and its villages;Joshua 15:46from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.Joshua 19:43Elon, Timnah, Ekron,
JudgesChapter 1: 1 mention1 mention
Judges 1:18Also Judah took Gaza with its border, and Ashkelon with its border, and Ekron with its border.
1 SamuelChapter 5: 1 mentionChapter 6: 2 mentionsChapter 7: 1 mentionChapter 17: 1 mention5 mentions
1 Samuel 5:10So they sent God’s ark to Ekron. As God’s ark came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to us, to kill us and our people.”1 Samuel 6:16When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.1 Samuel 6:17These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;1 Samuel 7:14The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace…1 Samuel 17:52The men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as Gai and to the gates of Ekron. The wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even…
2 KingsChapter 1: 4 mentions4 mentions
2 Kings 1:2Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I…2 Kings 1:3But Yahweh’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire…2 Kings 1:6They said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, “Yahweh says, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you send to…2 Kings 1:16He said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you…
JeremiahChapter 25: 1 mention1 mention
Jeremiah 25:20and all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
AmosChapter 1: 1 mention1 mention
Amos 1:8I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the…
ZephaniahChapter 2: 1 mention1 mention
Zephaniah 2:4For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up.
ZechariahChapter 9: 2 mentions2 mentions
Zechariah 9:5Ashkelon will see it, and fear; Gaza also, and will writhe in agony; as will Ekron, for her expectation will be disappointed; and the king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be…Zechariah 9:7I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also will be a remnant for our God; and he will be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a…

What the dictionary says

Firm-rooted, the most northerly of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, about 11 miles north of Gath.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources