Gaza

(gā'zah,) a town of Syria, in the pasha lic of Dam ascus,3 m. from the sea and 50 m. S.W. of Jerusalem. G. is first mentioned in Gen. x. 41, in describing the extent of the Can a a nite frontier. It was a strong place, and very important from its position on the great road from Egypt to Syria; it suffered, therefore, many sieges, and was frequently taken by hostile peoples. Pop. 15,000. [s. 398]