Digging in ’89

Ashkelon

The Bible frequently mentions the Philistine port city of Ashkelon. Samson went there in a rage and killed 30 men (Judges 14:19); David lamented “Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon” when he learned of the death of Saul and Jonathan, slain by the Philistines at the Battle of Gilboa (2 Samuel 1:20); and the seventh-century B.C. prophet Zephaniah predicted that “Ashkelon shall become a desolation” (Zephaniah 2:4).

Previous work at this large seaside site located in a National Park has uncovered a vast array of remains, including Canaanite and Philistine buildings, Persian period (539–332 B.C.) warehouses, a huge cemetery for dogs, a Roman and Byzantine bath-house and bordello, erotic oil lamps and Islamic houses and streets.