About the Site

Ashdod is a large site (about 70 acres) located on the coastal plain. It has a long occupational history spanning from the Bronze Age through the Byzantine Period, and it was a major seaport in the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. While the site was first a major Canaanite city, it is perhaps best known as a major Philistine city that was part of the Philistine Pentapolis. The excavations that have been done so far at Ashdod have yielded major contributions to the field of archaeology of the Southern Levant, including the study of Philistine culture and the famous early discoveries of the "Ashdoda" figurine and "Ashdod ware".

Biblical Ashdod

Ashdod is featured in the Bible multiple times, most often as a major Philistine city in the Old Testament. Some of the biblical references to Ashdod include:

Joshua 15:47- lists Ashdod among other well-known Philistine cities that are in the allotted territory of Judah
1 Samuel 5- perhaps the most famous mention of Ashdod, this passage describes how, in the aftermath of their victory against the Israelites, the Philistines take the Ark of the Covenant to Ashdod and place it in the temple of Dagon. After they do so, several supernatural incidents occur, including the statue of Dagon falling down before the Ark and eventually being found on the ground with its hands and head broken off. Following this, God sends a plague upon the people of Ashdod and its territory. Finally, the citizens of Ashdod recognize that the Ark is the cause of all their woes and send it away to the Philstine city of Gath, who, also realizing the consequences of having the Ark in the city, gather the Philistine lords and decide to send the Ark back to the Israelites.
2 Chronicles 26:6- King Uzziah of Judah attacked the Philistines and conquered and built in several of their cities, including Ashdod.
Isaiah 20:1- the Assyrian King Sargon conquered Ashdod.
Acts 8:40- this is the only New Testament reference to Ashdod. Here it is called "Azotus" and this is where the Spirit of the Lord carries Philip after he preached the Gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza.

Excavation History

1962-1972: IAA excavations led by Moshe Dothan discovered 23 strata spanning the Middle Bronze Age through the Byzantine Period.

2003: IAA salvage excavations near Tel Ashdod discovered a Neo-Assyrian palace dating to the late 8th century B.C.

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