Ekron

Ekron is mentioned in the Bible city of the Philistines.

Excavations

Ekron is now equated with Tel Miqne in Israel today. Since 1981 is excavated there.

History

Isolated finds show that the place was probably inhabited since around 3000 BC ( Chalcolithic ), although films of this period have been excavated. The city was probably founded in the 17th century BC. A total of eleven layers were distinguished. The place was temporarily surrounded by a wall and about 300 × 400 m tall, with an upper and a lower town were distinguished.

The Philistine city was founded around 1200. There was numerous Mycenaean or Cypriot imported pottery (LH IIIC). In a temple complex there was a royal dedicatory inscription, which confirmed the identification of the mound as Ekron, and delivered the names of five kings, some of which were already known from Assyrian sources. According to the inscription of the temple of the goddess Ptgyh (or Ptyh ) was consecrated. Around 700 the city was conquered by the Assyrians. After that, the city flourished as a center of the olive processing. In the year 604 or 603 BC, the Babylonians conquered the city. From Roman and Islamic times, there are sporadic settlement remains.

Bible

According to the book of Joshua is a part of the Philistine Ekron Five Cities, consisting of the cities of Gath, Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron, and Ashkelon. After the ideal geography of the land of Israel Ekron should the tribal territory of Judah belong ( Jos 15 EU). In the so -called " Adverse Possession directory" (Ri 1 EU ), however, noted that Judah could not conquer the territory of Ekron. After the defeat of the Israelites against the Philistines (1 Sam 4 EU) the ark is lost and in the meantime kept in Ekron. After 2 Kings 1 EU Ahaziah of Israel leaves after an injury Beelzebub ( Beelzebub ), the god of Ekron, ask about his fate, which he sharply criticized by the prophet Elijah.

Finally, Ekron, together with the other Philistine cities in the oracles of the prophet Jeremiah ( Jer 25 EU), Amos (Am ​​1 EU ), mentioned Zephaniah (Zep 2 EU) and Zechariah (Zech. 9 EU) and foretold disaster.

Kings of Ekron

  • Padi at the time of Sennacherib
  • Achish ( Ikausu ) (builder of the temple )

Whether referred to in the Ekron inscription further ancestors Achish Ya'ir, Ada and Ysd was also king of Ekron, is unclear. The enumeration of several ancestors could also have served to legitimize a new beginning with Padi dynasty.

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