5. Ashkelon, &c.--Gath alone is omitted, perhaps as being somewhat
inland, and so out of the route of the advancing conqueror.
Ekron . . . expectation . . . ashamed--Ekron, the farthest north of the
Philistine cities, had expected Tyre would withstand Alexander, and so
check his progress southward through Philistia to Egypt. This hope being
confounded ("put to shame"), Ekron shall "fear."
king shall perish from Gaza--Its government shall be overthrown. In
literal fulfilment of this prophecy, after a two month's siege, Gaza was
taken by Alexander, ten thousand of its inhabitants slain, and the rest
sold as slaves. Betis the satrap, or petty "king," was bound to a
chariot by thongs thrust through the soles of his feet, and dragged
round the city.
JFB.
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