The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment to the Romans, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. God will repay each person according to what they have done" (Romans 2:4-6). The essence of these words conveys that I have awaited their repentance for a long time, not wishing to punish their sins, so they might ultimately turn back and be healed. Yet, since they continue in their transgressions for the third and fourth time, I am compelled to act in judgment.
Let us now contemplate the sins of the Philistines and their cities, who are consistently referred to as foreigners in the LXX translation. Throughout the Old Testament where 'ἀλλοφύλους' appears, it specifically denotes the Philistines, now known as Palestinians. What actions did Gaza take that provoked the Lord’s wrath? She led away the complete captivity of the people of Judah, selling the captives to the Idumeans. While LXX translates 'perfect captivity' as 'the captivity of Solomon,' understanding the Hebrew word 'salma,' which means perfect or complete, as referring to Solomon. Aquila translated it as 'fully furnished,' while others like Simmachus and Theodotion used 'perfect,' suggesting there was no captive left who had not been handed over to the Idumeans. Thus, He declares His intent to unleash fire upon the walls and structures of Gaza, which will consume all that exists.
As we read about the five cities of Palestine being judged for their offense against the ark (1 Sam. 5), the Lord progresses to Azotus, referred to as 'Esdod,' and then to Ascalon, threatening to obliterate the inhabitants of Azotus and the one who wields the scepter in Ascalon, ensuring none shall remain, not even the elderly who rely on staffs for support. Again, He raises His hand against Akkaron. Having recounted these four cities, He encompasses the other Philistine cities by stating, "the rest of the Philistines shall perish," which may refer either to the city of Geth or to all the dependent villages of those cities.
In an allegorical interpretation, Gaza, known as 'Aza' in Hebrew, symbolizes strength or power; Solomon signifies peace; Idumea represents bloodshed and earthiness; Azoth, or 'Esdod,' symbolizes the fire of lineage; Ascalon connotes “man-killing fire,” while Akkaron implies barrenness and eradication. Thus, Gaza, boasting of her knowledge and authority, is charged with having imprisoned the captives of Solomon's lineage in Idumea. Such teachers of the Jews and their followers cling to the dead letter, refusing the life-giving Spirit, interpreting all things in an earthly sense. They disregard the call of the Lord alongside the apostles, who explain the parables, saying, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15). The Apostle contrasts the historical with the two covenants: one pertaining to Mount Sinai, representing bondage, and the other to the free Jerusalem, mother of us all (Gal. 4).
Therefore, it is declared that He will send fire on Gaza’s walls, aimed at all her arguments that attempt to defend her falsehoods. This consuming fire will undermine all that she has built upon human reasoning. He will likewise bring destruction upon the inhabitants of Azotus, part of the foreigners, for they who cling to the letter will find their hopes unfulfilled, filled instead with fury, as they falsely lay claim to lineage while facing the flames of judgment. The Lord will dismantle the power or tribe of Ascalon, where man-killing fire prevails, as the divine fire saves those whose hearts it touches, while the fire that descends from heaven will ignite the arrows of the adversary, annihilating those it ensnares. He will also raise His hand against Akkaron, a place of barrenness and annihilation, for those who neglect the spiritual essence will hear the words of Hosea, "Give them, O Lord. What shall You give them? Give them a barren womb and dry breasts" (Hosea 9:14). In summary, He proclaims the destruction of all that remains of the Philistines—be it the city of Geth, representative of the devil's furnace, or all other Philistines, whose name signifies a fall from grace; intoxicated, they are destined to collapse and lie in their disgrace.
THEOSIS