For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
For. He makes the punishment awaiting the neighbouring states an argument why the ungodly should repent (Zephaniah 2:1) and the godly persevere-namely that so they may escape from the general calamity.
Gaza shall be forsaken. In the Hebrew there is a play of similar sounds, Gazah Gazubah; Gazah shall be forsaken, as its name implies. So the Hebrew of the next clause.
Ekron shall be rooted up - Ekron teeakeer. "Ekron," probably meaning the firm rooting, "shall be rooted up."
They shall drive out Ashdod at the noon-day - when, on account of the heat, Orientals usually sleep, and military operations are suspended. So "Ishbosheth lay on a bed at noon" when the two assassins attacked him, (2 Samuel 4:5, etc.) Hence, an attack at noon implies one sudden and unexpected (Jeremiah 6:4-5; Jeremiah 15:8).
Ekron. Four cities of the Philistines are mentioned, whereas five was the normal number of their leading cities. Gath is omitted, being at this time under the Jews' dominion. David had subjugated it (1 Chronicles 18:1). Under Joram the Philistines almost regained it (2 Chronicles 21:16), but, Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6) and Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8) having conquered them, it remained under the Jews. Amos 1:6, etc.; Zechariah 9:5-6; Jeremiah 25:20, similarly mention only four cities of the Philistines.