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EKRON

(Heb. ʿeqrôn; Gk. Akkarōn)

A city of the Philistine Pentapolis (Josh. 13:3). With Israel’s appearance, Ekron was reckoned as a city both of Judah (Josh. 15:45-46) and Dan (19:43), perhaps situated on their border. Neither Israelite tribe, however, could successfully retain control of the city, and it frequently reverted to Philistine control (cf. Judg. 1:18).

During the early judgeship of Samuel, the Philistines controlled the city. Ekron was the staging city for returning the ark of the covenant to Judah following its capture by the Philistines in the battle of Ebenezer (1 Sam. 4, 6). The episode reflects Ekron’s proximity as the northernmost of the Pentapolis cities to border Judah. Later in Samuel’s judgeship, Ekron came under Israelite control (1 Sam. 7:14) only to return again to the Philistines (17:52).

Later references indicate that Ekron was outside Israelite hegemony (Jer. 25:20; Amos 1:8; Zeph. 2:4; Zech. 9:5-7). Elijah upbraided Ahaziah for inquiring concerning his health of Baalzebub, god of Ekron (2 Kgs. 1:2-16); this implies that the city was under foreign rule. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the entire city in 603, after which it remained essentially unoccupied. The last biblical reference to Ekron is when the city was awarded to the Hasmonean Jonathan for his loyalty to Alexander Balas (1 Macc. 10:89).

Ekron is identified with the ruins at Tel Miqne/Khirbet el-Muqannaʿ (1356.1315) ca. 56 km. (35 mi.) SW of Jerusalem. The site is on the eastern edge of the Shephelah which traditionally served as the frontier between the Philistines and Israel. Tel Miqne covers ca. 20 ha. (50 a.) consisting of a 16 ha. (40 a.) lower city and a 4 ha. (10 a.) acropolis.

Scattered pottery remains testify to occupation in the area for the Chalcolithic through Middle Bronze Ages. However, in the Late Bronze Age three strata, all preserving typical LB wares, provide a clearer picture of the site’s occupation. These exquisite wares reflect the sudden appearance of the Philistines and are reminiscent of their Aegean heritage. In Iron Age I the Philistines fortified the site and built palatial buildings with shrines (Heb. bāmôṯ) which reflected Cypriot influences. At the end of the Iron Age (10th century b.c.), the city was generally abandoned, perhaps reflecting the ongoing Israelite and Egyptian campaigns in the area.

Ekron reemerged as a significant site in the 8th century during the Neo-Assyrian presence. During this period Ekron developed a trade specialty in olive oil production. More than 100 olive oil installations have been identified along the perimeter of the site, yielding an estimated 1000 tons of olive oil a year.

The site has yielded numerous stone four-horned altars which suggest some religio-political control of olive oil production. Some of the store jars indicate that oil was dedicated to the mother-goddess Asherah. A dedicatory temple inscription identifies the site as Ekron and also refers to Achish, the son of Padi, who dedicated the temple to a goddess, likely Asherat.

Bibliography. T. Dothan and S. Gitin, “Miqne, Tel (Ekron),” NEAEHL 3:1051-59; Gitin, “Incense Altars from Ekron, Israel and Judah,” ErIsr 20 (1989): 52*-67*; “Philistine Silver and Jewelry Discovered at Ekron,” BA 55 (1992): 152; “Royal Temple Inscription Found at Philistine Ekron,” BA 59 (1996): 181-82.

Dale W. Manor

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EKRON

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)