ProlepsisOpen in the graph →

Prophecy

Ashkelon and Ekron destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (Zephaniah 2, Amos 1, Jeremiah 47)

Babylonian Chronicle ABC 5 (years 605-594 BC, British Museum): it reports the capture of Ashkelon in Kislev 604 and its reduction to ruins.
Archaeological object Babylonian Chronicle ABC 5 (years 605-594 BC, British Museum): it reports the capture of Ashkelon in Kislev 604 and its reduction to ruins. — Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

● Written before, according to historians

Written c. 760–605 BC according to tradition; c. 640–605 BC according to historians. Event: 604 BC.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. The prophets Amos (around 760 BC), Zephaniah (between 640 and 609 BC) and Jeremiah (shortly before 604 BC) announce the ruin of the Philistine cities on the coast, including Ashkelon, Gaza and Ekron.

What happened. In December 604 BC, Nebuchadnezzar takes Ashkelon and reduces it to ruins. A Babylonian chronicle tells of it, and archaeologists have found the burn layer. Ekron is destroyed in the same campaign, but Gaza and Ashkelon were later rebuilt.

What is still debated. after Babylon's victory over Egypt in 605, the fall of Egypt's allies on the coast was predictable, and final ruin did not come true for all the cities.

Why it is striking

Zephaniah and Jeremiah had named Ashkelon and Ekron among the doomed cities, and historians date these texts to before the campaign. The confirmation comes from the enemy and from the excavations. Gaza and Ashkelon were nevertheless rebuilt: the ruin was not final.

Main objection (in French for now)

Jr 47 est prononcé au moment où Babylone vient de vaincre l’Égypte à Karkemish (605) : prévoir la chute des alliés côtiers de l’Égypte relevait de l’analyse politique.

The text (World English Bible)

For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up. Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The LORD’s word is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines. I will destroy you until there is no inhabitant. The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks. The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They will find pasture. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for the LORD, their God, will visit them and restore them.

Zeph 2:4-7

The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom; but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it will devour its palaces. I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.

Amos 1:6-8

The LORD’s word that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck Gaza. The LORD says: “Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and will become an overflowing stream, and will overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and those who dwell therein. The men will cry, and all the inhabitants of the land will wail. At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers don’t look back for their children because their hands are so feeble, because of the day that comes to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; for the LORD w…

Jer 47:1-7

Sources