a city and government of the Philistines. It fell by lot to the tribe of Judah, in the first division made by Joshua (xv. 45.), but afterwards it was given to the tribe of Dan (id. xix. 43.). It was situated very near the Mediterranean, between Ashdod and Jamnia. Ekron was a powerful city, and it does not appear by history that the Jews were ever sole peaceable possessors of it: the Ekronites were the first who said that it was necessary to send back the ark of the God of Israel, in order to be delivered from those calamities which the presence of it brought upon their country, (1 Sam. v. 10.) The idol Baalzebub was principally adored at Ekron (2 Kings i. 2, &c.)