Accaron

The most northern of the five principal Philistine cities (Josh 13:3; Josh 15:11, Josh 15:46). We do not know whether it was founded by the Philistines or the Hevites. It was first given to the tribe of Juda (Josh 15:11, Josh 15:45) and then to Dan (Josh 14:43). Juda conquered it for a time (Jdg 1:18), but it fell again into the hands of the Philistines, who brought here the captive ark of the covenant after it had passed through Azotus and Geth (1Sam 5:10). It came near being reconquered by Israel after the defeat of Goliath (1Sam 7:14). The city possessed a famous sanctuary of Beelzebub (IV Ii., i, 2, 3, 6 16), and was often denounced by the prophets (Jer 25:20; Amos 1:8; Zeph 2:4; Zech 9:5). King Alexander Bales gave the city to Jonathan Machabeus (1Macc 10:89). Robinson identified it with the village Akir, a station on the railway from Jaffa to Jerusalem.