Map of Israel's Southern Coastal
Plain
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Map of the Southern Coastal Plain in Ancient Israel
Israel and Judah both had the privilege of sharing the Coastal Plain also known as the Maritime Plain. The Southern Coastal Plain known as the Plain of Philistia ran from the Joppa to the river below Gaza called the River of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) as seen in the map above.The distance was about 70 miles and the width varied from 3 miles in the north to 25 miles in the south. The width was 10 or 20 miles in variation.
This map also shows the Shephelah which was a buffer zone of large 500 - 1500 sloped hills with forests between the Philistines and the Hill Country of Israel.
The hills were 1,000 feet or more above sea level and the sand dunes flow inland for nearly 2 miles. It would have been a very good area for luxurious living were it not for its vulnerability to the north and to the south.
A main road ran directly through the land. The main cities of Philistia were Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
1 Samuel 6:17 - "And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one"
The Bible Mentions "Philistia" on the Coast of Israel
Psalms 87:4 - I will
make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold
Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [man] was born
there.
Psalms 60:8
- Moab [is] my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe:
Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Psalms
108:9 - Moab [is] my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my
shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
The Bible Mentions "Gaza" as a Chief City of the Philistines
Judges 1:18 - Also
Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon
with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
1
Chronicles 7:28 - And their possessions and habitations
[were], Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and
westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns
thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
Joshua
15:47 - Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza
with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the
great sea, and the border [thereof]:
Genesis
10:19 - And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as
thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto
Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
1 Samuel
6:17 - And these [are] the golden emerods which the
Philistines returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for
Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath
one, for Ekron one;
Amos 1:6
- Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza,
and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because
they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver [them] up
to Edom:
Judges 6:4
- And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the
earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no
sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
Judges
16:21 - But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes,
and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with
fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
Acts 8:26
- And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go
toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto
Gaza, which is desert.
Joshua
11:22 - There was none of the Anakims left in the land of
the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in
Ashdod, there remained.
2 Kings
18:8 - He smote the Philistines, [even] unto Gaza,
and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the
fenced city.
Jeremiah
47:5 - Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is
cut off [with] the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut
thyself?
Zephaniah
2:4 - For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon
a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron
shall be rooted up.
Jeremiah
47:1 - The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the
prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote
Gaza.
Joshua
10:41 - And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto
Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
Amos 1:7
- But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which
shall devour the palaces thereof:
Judges 16:1
- Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot,
and went in unto her.
Zechariah
9:5 - Ashkelon shall see [it], and fear; Gaza
also [shall see it], and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her
expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from
Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
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Table of Contents
Main Menu
- Ancient Assyrian Social Structure
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- The Destruction of Israel
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- The History Of Rome
- The Incredible Bible
- The Jewish Calendar in Ancient Hebrew History
- The Life of Jesus in Chronological Order
- The Life of Jesus in Harmony
- The Names of God
- The New Testament
- The Old Testament
- The Passion of the Christ
- The Pharisees
- The Sacred Year of Israel in New Testament Times
- The Samaritans
- The Scribes
Ancient Questions
- Why Do the Huldah Gates Appear Different in Ancient Replicas and Modern Photos?
- What Is the Origin of the Japanese and Chinese Peoples? A Biblical Perspective
- How did the ancient Greeks and Romans practice medicine and treat illnesses?
- What were the major contributions of ancient Babylon to mathematics and astronomy?
- How did the ancient Persians create and administer their vast empire?
- What were the cultural and artistic achievements of ancient India, particularly during the Gupta Empire?
- How did ancient civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs build their remarkable cities and structures?
- What were the major trade routes and trading practices of the ancient world?
- What was the role of slavery in ancient societies like Rome and Greece?
- How did the ancient Mayans develop their sophisticated calendar system?
Bible Study Questions
- Why Do Christians Celebrate Christmas?
- How Many Chapters Are There in the Bible?
- The Five Key Visions in the New Testament
- The 400-Year Prophecy: Unpacking Genesis 15 and the Journey of a People
- The Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV): Historical Significance, Translation Methodology, and Lasting Impact
- Exploring the English Standard Version (ESV): Its Aspects, Comparisons, Impact on Biblical Studies, and Church Use
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of Language Updates in the KJ21: Comparison with Other Versions
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of the American Standard Version (ASV): Comparison to the King James Version, Influence on Later Translations, and Evaluation of Strengths and Weaknesses
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of Amplifications in the Amplified Bible (AMP) and Its Comparison to Other Bible Translations
- Detailed Historical Analysis of the Amplified Bible Classic Edition (AMPC): Examples of Amplifications and Comparative Analysis with Other Bible Translations
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