History Ekron

1939 map showing surrounding region

the canaanite city had shrunk in years before main public building burned in 13th century bce, during bronze age collapse, period of general devastation associated sea peoples. re-established philistines @ beginning of iron age, c.12th century bce. during iron age, ekron border city on frontier contested between philistia , kingdom of judah.

records of neo-assyrian empire refer ekron. siege of ekron in 712 bce depicted on 1 of sargon ii s wall reliefs in palace @ khorsabad, names city. ekron revolted against sennacherib , expelled padi, governor, sent hezekiah, in jerusalem, safe-keeping. sennacherib marched against ekron , ekronites called upon aid of king of mutsri northwest arabia. sennacherib turned aside defeat army, did @ eltekeh, , returned , took city storm, put death leaders of revolt , carried adherents captivity. campaign led famous attack of sennacherib on hezekiah , jerusalem, in sennacherib compelled hezekiah restore padi, reinstated governor @ ekron. ashdod , ekron survived become powerful city-states dominated assyria in 7th century bce. city destroyed neo-babylonian king nebuchadnezzar ii in 604 bce, , although mentioned, accaron , late 1 maccabees 10:89 (2nd century bce), never resettled on large scale (see archaeology paragraph).

an olive oil production center dating seventh century bce discovered @ ekron has on 1 hundred large olive oil presses, , complete olive oil production center ancient times discovered. discovery indicates olive oil production highly developed in ancient palestine , major producer of olive oil residents other parts of ancient near east, such egypt , mesopotamia.