("the firm rooted".) Most northerly of the five Philistine lordship cities, farthest from the sea, to the right of the great road from Egypt northwards to Syria, in the shephelah (low country). A landmark of Judah on the northern boundary which ran thence to the sea at Jabneel (Joshua 15:45-46; Judges 1:18). Afterward in Dan (Joshua 19:43); but the Philistines permanently appropriated it (1 Samuel 5:10; 1 Samuel 17:52; Jeremiah 25:20). There the ark of the covenant was taken last before its return to Israel.
        A shrine and oracle of Baalzebub was there, to which king Ahaziah applied for consultation in his sickness (2 Kings 1:2; 2 Kings 1:16). Zechariah 9:5, "Ekron for her expectation shall be ashamed": she had expected Tyre would withstand Alexander in his progress southward toward Egypt; but her expectation shall bear the shame of disappointment. Zephaniah 2:4 plays on her name, 'Ekron tee'akeer," the firm-rooted one shall be rooted up." Now Akir, 3 miles E. of Yebna, N. of the wady Surar; a village consisting of 50 mud houses, with two well-built wells, is all that remains of the once leading Philistine city, fulfilling the prophecy that she should be rooted up.