Bible Meaning: Emigration, torn up by the roots, eradication
Strong's Concordance #H6138
Ekron is the most northern of the chief cities controlled by the Philistines (the others they possessed include Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Joshua 13:3).
Ekron, after Israel entered the Promised Land, was first given to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:11, 45 - 46) then to the tribe of Dan (19:43) even though Joshua had not conquered it (Joshua 13:2 - 3). Judah, however, took matters into its own hands by taking the city (Judges 1:18), which soon was retaken by the Philistines.
The worship of the pagan God Baalzebub, known as the "lord of the fly," was centered in the city (2Kings 1:2). Jesus was accused of performing miracles through the power of Beelzebub (the dung God or Satan the devil), a corruption of the word used in 2Kings.
The city played a major role when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites (1Samuel 4). Ashdod and Gath, who after hosting the ark were punished with painful hemorrhoids by God (1Samuel 5), passed the prized trophy to Ekron. The city, after it too suffered the same punishment, was able to convince the Philistine leadership to return the ark to Israel (1Samuel 6)!
The city of Ekron, as was prophesied by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 25:15 - 17) and the Minor Prophet Zephaniah (Zephaniah 2:4 - 7), was ultimately uprooted.
Important Verses
Joshua 15:1, 11
This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast . . . And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward . . .
Judges 1:18
Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
1Samuel 7:14
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel . . .
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath: and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
2Kings 1:2, 6
And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease . . .
And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron? . . .
Amos 1:6, 8
Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom . . .
And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.