There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel,.... For those that escaped the sword fled elsewhere, particularly to the following places:
only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod there remained; that is, some of the Anakims or giants; these were three of the five principalities of the Philistines, and were never conquered and possessed by Israel, see
Joshua 13:3; of the city of Gaza, Amos 1:7;
Amos 1:8; and
Zephaniah 2:4; and of Gath, Amos 6:2; Ashdod is the same with Azotus, Acts 8:40: Mela says h, the port of Azotus was a mart for the merchandises of Arabia, and was built on such an eminence, that from the top of it, at the fourth watch, might be seen the rising of the sun at the mountain Azotus; see
"Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.'' (1 Maccabees 9:15)
this city held out a siege of twenty nine years against Psammitticus, king of Egypt, Isaiah 20:1.
h De Situ Orbis, l. 1. c. 10.