ga-za'-ra (Gazara, Gazera):
A fortress of great strength in Judea, which figures often in the Maccabean wars. To this place Judas pursued Gorgias (/APC 1Macc 4:15). It was fortified by the Greek general Bacchides (/APC 1Macc 9:52; Ant, XIII, i, 3). It was captured by Simon Maccabeus, who turned out the inhabitants and purified the city. He built here a palace for himself, and appointed his son John commander of his army (/APC 1Macc 13:43 ff). A different account of this occurrence is given in /APC 2Macc 10:32 ff, where the capture is attributed to Judas. The narrative here, however, is inspired by antagonism to Simon because he had assumed the high-priesthood.
The fortress is identical with Tell Jezer, the ancientGEZER(which see). It is interesting to note that recent excavations have uncovered the ruins of Simon's palace (PEFS, 1905, 26).
W. Ewing