The most northerly of the Philistine towns, 9 miles from the sea, at first allotted to Judah (Josh. 15: 45-46), then to Dan (Josh. 19: 43). Judah held it for a time (Judg. 1: 18), but the Philistines recovered it (1 Sam. 5: 10; see also 1 Sam. 6: 16; 1 Sam. 7: 14; 1 Sam. 17: 52; 2 Kgs. 1: 2-16; Jer. 25: 20; Zech. 9: 5, 7).