John Trapp on Zephaniah 2:4

Verſe 4. For Gaza ſhall be forſaken and Aſkelon &c.) Here is dainty Rhetoricke in the Originall. This Prophet was (as Quintilian ſaith a good Oratour ought to be) Vir bonus, dicendi peritus, a good man, and a maſter of ſpeech. The Hebrew tongue ſeemeth to have bin in the prime and flouriſh when Eſay, Micah, and Zephany prophecied, like as the Latine was about Tullies time. The Philiſtines are here threatened, for a terrour to the impenitent Jews, who ſhould taſt of the ſame whip, and for the comfort of the Godly, who ſhould be hid when theſe their enemies ſhould be utterly deſtroyed. Gaza was ſo forſaken, according to its Propheſie, that it was therehence called Gaza the deſart: Askelon according to its name became ignis ignominia the reproach of the fire that waſted it, and (as a mercileſſe element) laid it deſolate.Act. 8.26. Aſhdod (called in the New Teſtament Azotus Act. 8.) ſhall alſo (according to its Etymon) be waſted with fire, and her inhabitants driven into a far country as Captives at high noon, when the Sun (in thoſe hot climates eſpecially) is moſt parching and ſcorching: they ſhall be driven out with all the diſadvantage that may be.

And Ekron ſhall be rooted out] Ekron was the place where Beelzebub the Prince of Devils had his throne.Virg. The Poets put it for hell. Flectere ſi nequeo ſuperos, Acheronta movebo. Threatened it is therefore here (not without an elegancy that cannot be engliſhed) with utter extirpation The grand-devill had neſted and neſtled himſelfe as near the holy land as might be: [non-Latin text not transcribed] &c. but he ſhall not long reſt there, the Hebrew child will diſquiet the great Pan: &e.