Ashdod in the Bible — Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

stronghold; fortress; castle; an oppressor; despoiler; ravager; theft. A Philistine city, a seat of Dagon worship, that was allotted to Judah, but a long time passed before the men of Judah really conquered the inhabitants of Ashdod (Josh. 15:47; I Sam. 5:1-7; II Chron. 26:6; also prophesied of in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Zephaniah, and Zechariah); called Azotus in Acts 8:40. Meta. A strongly fortified aggregation of rebellious, oppressing, thieving, destroying thoughts in man's consciousness (stronghold, fortress, an oppressor, despoiler, ravager, theft). (See PHILISTINES and ASHDODITES.)