a city of the Philistines, made by Joshua part of the tribe of
Judah. It was one of the five principalities of the Philistines,
situated toward the southern extremity of the promised land, 1 Sam. vi,
17, between Raphia and Askelon. The advantageous situation of Gaza was
the cause of the numerous revolutions which it underwent. It first of
all belonged to the Philistines, and then to the Hebrews. It recovered
its liberty in the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz, and was reconquered by
Hezekiah, 2 Kings xviii, 8. It was subject to the Chaldeans, who
conquered Syria and Phenicia. Afterward, it fell into the hands of the
Persians. It must have been a place of considerable strength. For two
months it baffled all the efforts of Alexander the Great, who was
repeatedly repulsed, and wounded in the siege; which he afterward
revenged in a most infamous manner on the person of the gallant defender
Betis, whom, while yet alive, having ordered his ankles to be bored, he
dragged round the walls, tied to his chariot wheels, in the barbarous
parade of imitating the less savage treatment of the corpse of Hector by
Achilles.
Dr. Wittman gives the following description of his visit to Gaza: “In
pursuing our route toward this place, the view became still more
interesting and agreeable: the groves of olive trees extending from the
place where we had halted to the town, in front of which a fine avenue
of these trees was planted. Gaza is situated on an eminence, and is
rendered picturesque by the number of fine minarets which rise
majestically above the buildings, and by the beautiful date trees which
are interspersed. The suburbs of Gaza are composed of wretched mud huts;
but within side the town the buildings make a much better appearance
than those we had generally met with in Syria. The streets are of a
moderate breadth. Many fragments of statues, columns, &c, of marble were
seen in the walls and buildings in different parts of the town. The
suburbs and environs of Gaza are rendered infinitely agreeable by a
number of large gardens, cultivated with the nicest care, which lie in a
direction north and south of the town; while others of the same
description run to a considerable distance westward. These gardens are
filled with a great variety of choice fruit trees, such as the fig, the
mulberry, the pomegranate, the apricot, the peach, and the almond;
together with a few lemon and orange trees. The numerous plantations of
olive and date trees which are interspersed contribute greatly to the
picturesque effect of the scene exhibited by the surrounding plains.
These, on our arrival, were overspread with flowers, the variegated
colours of which displayed every tint and every hue. Among these were
the chrysanthemum, scarlet ranunculus, lupin, pheasant-eye, tulip,
china-aster, dwarf-iris, lintel, daisy, &c, all of them growing wild and
abundantly, with the exception of the lupin, which was cultivated in
patches, regularly ploughed and sowed, with a view to collect the seeds,
which the inhabitants employ at their meals, more especially to thicken
their ragouts. The few corn fields, which lay at a distance, displayed
the promise of a rich golden harvest; and the view of the sea, distant
about a league, tended to diversify still more the animated features of
this luxuriant scene.” This and similar descriptions of modern
travellers, which are occasionally introduced into this work, are given
both as interesting in themselves, and to show that relics of the
ancient beauty and fertility of the Holy Land are still to be found in
many parts of it.
Judah. It was one of the five principalities of the Philistines,
situated toward the southern extremity of the promised land, 1 Sam. vi,
17, between Raphia and Askelon. The advantageous situation of Gaza was
the cause of the numerous revolutions which it underwent. It first of
all belonged to the Philistines, and then to the Hebrews. It recovered
its liberty in the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz, and was reconquered by
Hezekiah, 2 Kings xviii, 8. It was subject to the Chaldeans, who
conquered Syria and Phenicia. Afterward, it fell into the hands of the
Persians. It must have been a place of considerable strength. For two
months it baffled all the efforts of Alexander the Great, who was
repeatedly repulsed, and wounded in the siege; which he afterward
revenged in a most infamous manner on the person of the gallant defender
Betis, whom, while yet alive, having ordered his ankles to be bored, he
dragged round the walls, tied to his chariot wheels, in the barbarous
parade of imitating the less savage treatment of the corpse of Hector by
Achilles.
Dr. Wittman gives the following description of his visit to Gaza: “In
pursuing our route toward this place, the view became still more
interesting and agreeable: the groves of olive trees extending from the
place where we had halted to the town, in front of which a fine avenue
of these trees was planted. Gaza is situated on an eminence, and is
rendered picturesque by the number of fine minarets which rise
majestically above the buildings, and by the beautiful date trees which
are interspersed. The suburbs of Gaza are composed of wretched mud huts;
but within side the town the buildings make a much better appearance
than those we had generally met with in Syria. The streets are of a
moderate breadth. Many fragments of statues, columns, &c, of marble were
seen in the walls and buildings in different parts of the town. The
suburbs and environs of Gaza are rendered infinitely agreeable by a
number of large gardens, cultivated with the nicest care, which lie in a
direction north and south of the town; while others of the same
description run to a considerable distance westward. These gardens are
filled with a great variety of choice fruit trees, such as the fig, the
mulberry, the pomegranate, the apricot, the peach, and the almond;
together with a few lemon and orange trees. The numerous plantations of
olive and date trees which are interspersed contribute greatly to the
picturesque effect of the scene exhibited by the surrounding plains.
These, on our arrival, were overspread with flowers, the variegated
colours of which displayed every tint and every hue. Among these were
the chrysanthemum, scarlet ranunculus, lupin, pheasant-eye, tulip,
china-aster, dwarf-iris, lintel, daisy, &c, all of them growing wild and
abundantly, with the exception of the lupin, which was cultivated in
patches, regularly ploughed and sowed, with a view to collect the seeds,
which the inhabitants employ at their meals, more especially to thicken
their ragouts. The few corn fields, which lay at a distance, displayed
the promise of a rich golden harvest; and the view of the sea, distant
about a league, tended to diversify still more the animated features of
this luxuriant scene.” This and similar descriptions of modern
travellers, which are occasionally introduced into this work, are given
both as interesting in themselves, and to show that relics of the
ancient beauty and fertility of the Holy Land are still to be found in
many parts of it.