In Judean history, Gazara is recalled as the ancient Gezer, the fortress captured by a pharaoh, who gave it to his daughter when she married Solomon.
It was captured by Simon Maccabeus along with the city of Joppa and the Jerusalem citadel, which all belonged to the Seleucid empire.
[2] Simon built a palace at Gazara, and appointed his son, John, commander of his army (1 Maccabees 13:43).
[3] Maccabean account also cited that Judeans started settling in Gazara, which has also been confirmed by archaeological evidence.
Emil Schürer, a professor of theology at the University of Giessen, wrote:[5] Gazara, the old Geshur, not far from Emmaus Nicopolis in a westerly direction, at the base of the mountains, had been up to that time a Gentile city.