Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ACCO

(Heb. ʿakkô)

A Levantine coastal city identified with modern Tell el-Fukhkhâr/Tel Acco (1585.2585), a 200-dunam tell some 700 m. (2300 ft.) inland. Its importance as a major economic and political center may be attributed to its location at the junction of both maritime and overland trade routes connecting the coast with Galilee, the Jordan Valley as well as Transjordan and Syria. Originally a Canaanite center, Acco is mentioned as an unconquered city at the time of the Conquest (Judg. 1:31) as well as a harbor city in the time of Paul (Acts 21:7). The Hellenistic-Roman city was called Ptolemais, located between the harbor and the tell. During the Crusade period it was known as St. Jean D’Acre or Acre, and subsequently it was called Akka by its Arab conquerors.

Archaeological evidence and the occurrence of the name in ancient texts sources indicate that it was continually inhabited over a period of four millennia. During the Iron Age Acco was settled by the Philistines; indications of metal-working and Mycenean pottery confirm this link with the Mediterranean islands. Soon afterward it became an important Phoenician maritime and trading center, as shown by the underwater excavations in the harbor. In Area B numerous examples of household utensils, figurines, and jewelry testify to its role as a major trading center between the Phoenician coastal cities and the mainland. Due to the Assyrian westward expansion by Tiglath-pileser III tribute was exacted from the Phoenician cities that later joined the rebellion of Hezekiah, the result of which was the disastrous invasions by Sennacherib in 701 b.c. Assurbanipal boasts that he killed those inhabitants of Acco who were not submissive, hanging their corpses on poles which he placed around the city, and deported the others (ANET, 300). From 530 onward Acco was a strategic base for the Persian military operations against Egypt. As a city with polis status Acco became an important link in international trade between the Hellenistic world and the Nabateans, controlling access to the mainland of Palestine. Under Ptolemaic rule its name changed to Ptolemais. During the Maccabean wars the Seleucids used it as a center from which the Jews were persecuted. Pompey conquered the city in 63 b.c. and enlarged its territory. As Colonia Claudia Ptolemais it served as a center for the military, industry, and trade during Roman and Byzantine times. Acco is also famous because of Napoleon’s defeat there in 1799.

Bibliography. M. Dothan, et al., “Acco,” NEAEHL 1:16-31; E. Linder, “The Harbor of Akko Excavations (1973-75 Seasons),” International Conference of Underwater Archaeology (Philadelphia, 1975).

J. P. J. Olivier

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ACCO

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)