-One of the five chief cities of the Philistines Joshua 13:3

-Conquered and allotted to Judah Joshua 15:11,45; Judges 1:18

-Allotted to Dan Joshua 19:43

-The Ark of God taken to 1 Samuel 5:10

-Temple of Baal-zebub at 2 Kings 1 :2

-Prophecies against Jeremiah 25:20; Amos 1 :8; Zep 2:4; Zechariah 9:5