Reference: Gath
American
A city of the Philistines, and one of their five principalities, 1Sa 5:8; 6:17. It was a notable city, in the border of the Philistines nearest to Jerusalem; but its site has long been lost. It was the home of Goliath, 1Sa 17:4. Compare Jos 11:22; 2Sa 21:19-22. Here David sought a refuge form Saul, 1Sa 21:10; 27:2-7. It came under his power in the beginning of his reign over all Israel, 1Ch 18:1, and continued subject to his successors till the declension of the kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam rebuilt or fortified it, 2Ch 11:8. It was afterwards recovered by the Philistines, but Uzziah reconquered it, 2Ch 26:6. Its inhabitants were called Gittites, Jos 13:3; and David had tow of them in his service, who faithfully adhered to him during the rebellion of Absalom, 2Sa 15:18-22.
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No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites, except for some remaining in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)-the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites
So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, "What should we do with the ark of Israel's God?" "The ark of Israel's God should be moved to Gath," they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark.
As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
So David set out with his 600 men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. read more. When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. Now David said to Achish, "If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" That day Achish gave Ziklag to him, and it still belongs to the kings of Judah today. The time that David stayed in the Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.
while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites-600 men who came with him from Gath-marched past the king. The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the king since you're both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. read more. Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness." But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!" "March on," David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him.
After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control.
Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. Then he built cities in [the vicinity of] Ashdod and among the Philistines.
Easton
a wine-vat, one of the five royal cities of the Philistines (Jos 13:3) on which the ark brought calamity (1Sa 5:8-9; 6:17). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath (1Sa 17:4). David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath (1Sa 21:10; 27:2-4; Ps 56), and his connection with it will account for the words in 2Sa 1:20. It was afterwards conquered by David (2Sa 8:1). It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia (1Sa 21:10; 1Ch 18:1). Its site has been identified with the hill called Tell esSafieh, the Alba Specula of the Middle Ages, which rises 695 feet above the plain on its east edge. It is noticed on monuments about B.C. 1500. (See Metheg-ammah.)
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from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)-the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites
So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, "What should we do with the ark of Israel's God?" "The ark of Israel's God should be moved to Gath," they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark. After they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the men of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
So David set out with his 600 men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. read more. When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
Do not tell it in Gath, don't announce it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat.
After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from Philistine control.
Fausets
("a winepress"), Gath being in a vine-abounding country. One of the five great Philistine cities (Jos 13:3; 1Sa 6:17). Goliath's abode (1 Samuel 17). Its people were the "Gittites," of whom was David's devotedly loyal friend Ittai (2Sa 15:19-22). In undesigned coincidence with the presence of giants in Gath, according to 1 Samuel 17; 2Sa 21:19-22, is Jos 11:22; "only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod there remained Anakims." Gath was one of the five cities to which the Philistines carried about the ark of God (the five formed one political unity), and thereby brought on the people God's heavy visitation with emerods. It was' represented by one of the five golden emerods and five golden inlet sent to propitiate Jehovah (1Sa 5:9; 6:4-5,10-18).
David there reigned madness to save his life; a second time he visited king Achish, and had Ziklag assigned to him as a residence (1Sa 21:10-15; 27:12). Thence he attached and drew after him 600 Gittite followers, with Ittai their chief (2Sa 15:18); probably some at the time of his sojourn in Gath, and most when he smote and subdued the Philistines (2Sa 8:1). Though tributary to Israel, Gath still retained its own king (1Ki 2:46). Hazael fought against it and took it (2Ki 12:17). Uzziah gave a heavy blow to Gath, breaking down its wall (2Ch 26:6; Am 6:2). "Hamath ... Gath, be they better than these kingdoms?" Gath, once "better (stronger) than" Israel and Judah, fell; how vain then is your confidence in the strength of mounts Zion and Samaria!
In Am 1:6, etc., Zep 2:4-5; Zec 9:5-6, Gath is omitted; probably it had lost by that time its place among the five primary cities. Hezekiah, after Uzziah, conquered Philistia (2Ki 18:8; Isa 14:29-32). Tell es Safieh occupies the site of Gath, which lay on the border between Judah and Philistia, between Shocoh and Ekron (1Sa 17:1,52). Saul came down from the hills by the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, which passes near Shocoh, and encountered the Philistines near the bend in the valley. Saul was on the E. of the valley, the Philistines on the W., as they came from the W. Gath was from its strength often alternately in the hands of Judah and of Philistia (2Ch 11:8). It lay on a hill at the foot of Judah's mountains, ten miles E. of Ashdod, and ten S.E. of Ekron.
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No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites, except for some remaining in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)-the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites
After they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against the city of Gath, causing a great panic. He afflicted the men of the city, from the youngest to the oldest, with an outbreak of tumors.
They asked, "What guilt offering should we send back to Him?" And they answered, "Five gold tumors and five gold mice [corresponding to] the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers. Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel's God, and perhaps He will stop oppressing you, your gods, and your land.
The men did this: They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and confined their calves in the pen. Then they put the ark of the Lord on the cart, along with the box [containing] the gold mice and the images of the tumors. read more. The cows went straight up the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one highway, lowing as they went; they never strayed to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers were walking behind them to the territory of Beth-shemesh. The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed to see it. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people of the city chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites removed the ark of the Lord, along with the box containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. That day the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. When the five Philistine rulers observed [this], they returned to Ekron that same day. As a guilt offering to the Lord, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The number of gold mice also [corresponded] to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the Lord was placed is in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh to this day.
The Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah and camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.
The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
David fled that day from Saul's presence and went to King Achish of Gath. But Achish's servants said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Don't they sing about him during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands?" read more. David took this to heart and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath, so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them,scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. "Look! You can see the man is crazy," Achish said to his servants. "Why did you bring him to me? Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?"
So Achish trusted David, thinking, "Since he has made himself detestable to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever."
After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from Philistine control.
while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites-600 men who came with him from Gath-marched past the king. The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the king since you're both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. read more. Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness." But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, "As surely as the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!" "March on," David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him.
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam. At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot-24 in all. He, too, was descended from the giant. read more. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David's brother Shimei, killed him. These four were descended from the giant in Gath and were killed by David and his soldiers.
Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in Solomon's hand.
At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.
He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.
Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. Then he built cities in [the vicinity of] Ashdod and among the Philistines.
Don't rejoice, all of you [in] Philistia, because the rod of the one who struck you is broken. For a viper will come out of the root of a snake, and from its egg comes a flying serpent. Then the firstborn of the poor will be well fed, and the impoverished will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root with hunger, and your remnant will be slain. read more. Wail, you gates! Cry out, city! Tremble with fear, all Philistia! For a cloud of dust is coming from the north, and there is no one missing from [the invader's] ranks. What answer will be given to the messengers from that nation? The Lord has founded Zion, and His afflicted people find refuge in her.
The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Gaza for three crimes, even four, because they exiled a whole community, handing them over to Edom.
Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?
For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a ruin. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted. Woe, inhabitants of the seacoast, nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy you until there is no one left.
Ashkelon will see it and be afraid; Gaza too, and will writhe in great pain, as will Ekron, for her hope will fail. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will become uninhabited. A mongrel people will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
Hastings
A city of the Philistine Pentapolis. It is mentioned in Jos 11:22 as a place where the Anakim took refuge; but Joshua is significantly silent about the apportioning of the city to any of the tribes. The ark was brought here from Ashdod (1Sa 5:8), and thence to Ekron (1Sa 5:10). It was the home of Goliath (1Sa 17:4; 2Sa 21:19), and after the rout of the Philistines at Ephes-dammim it was the limit of their pursuit (1Sa 17:52 Septuagint). David during his outlawry took refuge with its king. Achish (1Sa 21:10). A bodyguard of Gittites was attached to David's person under the leadership of a certain Ittai; these remained faithful to the king after the revolt of Absalom (2Sa 15:18). Shimei's servants ran to Gath, and were pursued thither by him contrary to the tabu laid upon him (1Ki 2:40). Gath was captured by Hazael of Syria (2Ki 12:17). An unsuccessful Ephraimite cattle-lifting expedition against Gath is recorded (1Ch 7:21). The city was captured by David, according to the Chronicler (1Ch 18:1). and fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch 11:8). It was again captured by Uzziah (2Ch 26:6). Amos refers to it in terms which imply that some great calamity has befallen it (2Ch 6:2); the later prophets, though they mention other cities of the Pentapolis, are silent respecting Gath, which seems therefore to have dropped out of existence. The exact circumstances of its final fate are unknown. The topographical indications, both of the Scripture references and of the Onomasticon, point to the great mound Tell es-Safi as the most probable site for the identification of Gath. It stands at the mouth of the Valley of Elah, and clearly represents a large and important town. It was partially excavated by the Palestine Exploration Fund in 1899, but, unfortunately, the whole mound being much cumbered with a modern village and its graveyards and sacred shrines, only a limited area was found available for excavation, and the results were not so definite as they might have been.
R. A. S. Macalister.
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No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites, except for some remaining in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, "What should we do with the ark of Israel's God?" "The ark of Israel's God should be moved to Gath," they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark.
The Gathites then sent the ark of God to Ekron, but when it got there, the Ekronites cried out, "They've moved the ark of Israel's God to us to kill us and our people!"
Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
The men of Israel and Judah rallied, shouting their battle cry, and chased the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Philistine bodies were strewn all along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.
while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites-600 men who came with him from Gath-marched past the king.
So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath to search for his slaves. He went and brought them back from Gath.
At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.
his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead. The men of Gath who were born in the land killed Ezer and Elead because they went down to raid their cattle.
After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control.
Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod. Then he built cities in [the vicinity of] Ashdod and among the Philistines.
Morish
One of the five royal cities of the Philistines, and to which Goliath belonged. It is not mentioned as having been given to any of the tribes. It was to this city that the ark was carried when taken in war. 1Sa 5:8. To Achish king of Gath David resorted when his faith failed him as to God's protection. 1Sa 27:2-4: cf. 1Sa 21:10,12. Afterwards when he was king and in power he took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. Uzziah also fought against the place and broke down its walls. 1Ch 18:1; 2Ch 26:6. After Mic 1:10 we hear no more of Gath among the cities of the Philistines: cf. Zep 2:4; Zec 9:5-6. It may have been ruined. Its site is identified with Tell es Safl, 31 43' N, 34 51' E, where there are extensive ruins and cisterns hewn out of the rock. It commanded the entrance to the valley of Elah.
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So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, "What should we do with the ark of Israel's God?" "The ark of Israel's God should be moved to Gath," they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark.
David took this to heart and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath,
So David set out with his 600 men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. read more. When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control.
Don't announce it in Gath, don't weep at all. In Beth-leaphrah roll in the dust.
For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a ruin. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
Ashkelon will see it and be afraid; Gaza too, and will writhe in great pain, as will Ekron, for her hope will fail. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will become uninhabited. A mongrel people will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
Smith
(a wine press), one of the five royal cities of the Philistines;
and the native place of the giant Goliath.
It probably stood upon the conspicuous hill now called Tell-es-Safieh, upon the side of the plain of Philistia, at the foot of the mountains of Judah; 10 miles east of Ashdod, and about the same distance south by east of Ekron. It is irregular in form, and about 200 feet high. Gath occupied a strong position,
on the border of Judah and Philistia,
and from its strength and resources forming the key of both countries, it was the scene of frequent struggles, and was often captured and recaptured.
2Ki 12:17; 2Ch 11:8; 26:6; Am 6:2
The ravages of war to which Gath was exposed appear to have destroyed it at a comparatively early period, as it is not mentioned among the other royal cities by the later prophets.
It is familiar to the Bible student as the scene of one of the most romantic incidents in the life of King David.
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from the Shihor east of Egypt to the border of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)-the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as the Avvites
Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard.
David fled that day from Saul's presence and went to King Achish of Gath. But Achish's servants said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Don't they sing about him during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands?" read more. David took this to heart and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath, so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them,scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. "Look! You can see the man is crazy," Achish said to his servants. "Why did you bring him to me? Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?"
At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.
Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?
For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon will become a ruin. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
Ashkelon will see it and be afraid; Gaza too, and will writhe in great pain, as will Ekron, for her hope will fail. There will cease to be a king in Gaza, and Ashkelon will become uninhabited. A mongrel people will live in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
Watsons
GATH, the fifth of the Philistine cities. It was a place of strength in the time of the prophets Amos and Micah, and is placed by Jerom on the road between Eleutheropolis and Gaza. It appears to have been the extreme boundary of the Philistine territory in one direction, as Ekron was on the other. Hence the expression, "from Ekron even unto Gath," 1Sa 7:14.
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The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.