GAZARA rci.Npa; 701. Pcttapa ; Camara), the name of a town of importance in the history of the wars of the Maccabees. Its site is placed near Azotus Irl 'ANrov, Maccab. xiv. 34), and it is nearly always mentioned in con nection with Joppa and Jamnia (i Maccab. xiv. 34. xv. 2S, 35 ; iv. IS ; Joseph. Antig. xii. 7. 4 ; xiii. 6. 6 ; 9. 2 ; Bell. Yud. i. 2. 2). The Gaza in I Mac cab. (xiii. 43) and the Gadara in Josephus (Antig. v. I. 22 ; Xii. 7. 4) should doubtless be read Ga zara (cf. Prideaux, Connection, lib. iv. p. 267, note ; Reland, Palcest., s. v. Gadara). It may perhaps be identified with the Gadaris of Strabo (xvi. 2, Didot. ed., p. 646), also described by him as a town not far from Azotus (Reland, c.; Cellarius, Geog., vol. ii. p. 530). Gazara was the scene of many battles in the Maccabman period, and was alternately possessed by each of the opposing parties. When Gorgias, general of Antiochus Epi phanes, was defeated by Judas Maccabmus, his forces were pursued unto Gazara, and unto the plains of Idumma, and Azotus, and Jamnia' (ecos I'aiiip/Lp, etc., Maccab. iv. 15 ; Aexpt PaMptop, etc., Joseph. Antiq. xii. 7. 4) ; Nicanor was also defeated by Judas, and pursued from Adasa to Gazara' (as PciNpa, Maccab. vii. 45). After the defeat of the Idummans, Judas went against Tinto theus, who fled to Gazara for refuge. Judas, after several days' siege took the city (2 Maccab. x. 32-37 ; cf. Joseph. Antiq. xii. S. 1-4) ; many of its towers were burnt, and Timotheus himself 'killed (2 Mac cab. /. c.) When Bacchides returned to Jerusalem, after the defeat of Jonathan, he fortified several cities, and among them Bethsura and Gazara, and the tower (etxpa) of Jerusalem (i Maccab. ix. 52 ; Joseph. Antiq. xiii. 3), and it was again fortified by Simon, when it had been recovered by the Jews (t Maccab. xiv. 7, 33, 34 ; Joseph. Antiq. xiii. 6. 6 ; Bell. Yucl. i. 2. 2). Simon built himself a house at Gazara, and also made it the abode of his son John, the captain of all his hosts (t Maccab. xiii. 53 ; xvi. 1, 19, 21). It is described as being a very strong bold' (6xlipwita, 2 Maccab. x. 32 ;
riiglefut . . . Oiratt await Ocret, cf. Joseph. An viii. 6. r). Gazara is mentioned with Joppa ir the treaty of friendship between Hyrcanus and the Romans after the death of Antiochus VII., Sidetes, n.c. circa 128-9 (Joseph. Antiq. xiii. 9. 2 ; cf. Clinton, F. H 332).
lt is mentioned by Eusebius (Onomasticon, s. v. IWO) as being four miles from Nicopolis [Em mAus], but it was more probably nearer the sea coast, as in the Maccabees and Josephus it is nearly always coupled with Joppa, Azotus, and Jamnia (see passages above cited), and again in distinct language as bordering upon Azotus. (I Maccab. xiv. 34). It appears to have been the same place with GAZER or GEZER, a tovvn frequently men tioned in the O. T. As David chased the Philis tines from Geba to Gazer (2 Sam. v. 25 ; Chron. xiv. 16 ; eixpt 71-6Xeces Pcti-cipcep, Joseph. Antig. vii. 4. 1), so Judas defeated Gorgias at Emmaus and pursued him to Gazara (r Maccab. iv. 15). Pha raoh, the father-in-law of Solomon, took Gazer (PE Kings ix. 16 ; Pcitep, 17), then a Canaanitish city, burnt it, slew the Canaanites that were in it, and gave it in dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife (1 Kings, I. c.: TaYp, LXX., Josh. xvi. lo; cf.
Judges i. 29 ; ragimpiL ThP 7'7)3 IlaXato-rivow x6pas Ii/rdpxovo-av, Joseph. Antiy. viii. 6. t). This must have occurred during the reign of David, or early in that of Solomon, and it seems out of the question to suppose that Pharaoh, when the Israelite kingdom was so powerful, could have advanced far into the interior of the countiy. The site near the sea-coast is therefore confirme'd by this circumstance.
Gazara may be identified with the modern village of Yazier, three miles and a half to the east of Joppa, though as a coast-town and a place of strength in the time of the Maccabees, it is unlikely that it should have so entirely lost its importance (cf. Kitto, Palestine, vol. i. p. 695, note). It must however be remembered that names sometimes linger in the neighbourhood of sites.—F. W. M.