And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.
I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod ... Ashkelon ... Ekron. Gath alone is not mentioned of the five chief Philistine cities. It had already been subdued by David; and it, as well as Ashdod, was taken by Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6). Tartan, the general of the Assyrian king, Sargon, subsequently took it (Isaiah 20:1). Gath perhaps had lost its position as one of the five primary cities before Amos uttered this prophecy, whence arose his omission of it. So Zephaniah 2:4-5 mentions the same four cities, and omits Gath. Five was the political number prevalent among the Philistines in their organization. Hence, "five golden mice were sent as a trespass offering, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 6:4). The five formed one unity as a state. 'Ashkelon signifies hanging' (Pusey), in reference to its high situation. Its name is found on a monument of Karnac, as a city of Canaan taken by the conqueror Raamses II (Compare Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 25:16). Subsequently to the subjugation of the Philistines by Uzziah, and then by Hezekiah, they were reduced by Psammeticus of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians, Alexander, and lastly the Asmoneans. Ashdod means the mighty: Ekron, the firm-rooted. Ashdod was 34 miles from Gaza, on the great route from Egypt northward. Ashkelon lay to the left of the road, near the sea, rather more than halfway. Ekron lay to the right of the road, northward from Gaza, farthest from the sea (Pusey).
I will turn mine hand - literally, bring back mine hand, visiting them anew with the same punishment.