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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There was left remaining none of the Anakim, in the land of the sons of Israel, - save only, in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain.
from the Shihor which faceth Egypt, even as far as the boundary of Ekron, northward, to the Canaanites, is it counted, - five princes of Philistines, the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites, also the Avvim
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said - What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel.
Now, these, are the golden boils which, the Philistines returned as a guilt-offering unto Yahweh, - For Ashdod, one, for Gaza, one, for Ashkelon, one, for Gath, one, for Ekron, one;
And there came forth a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath, his name, from Gath, - his height, six cubits and a span;
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath.
And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him passed over, unto Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David abode with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, - David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal, the Carmelite. read more. And, when it was told Saul, that David had fled to Gath, he added no more, to seek him. Then said David unto Achish - If, I pray thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there, - for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city, with thee? So Achish gave him, on that day, Ziklag, - wherefore Ziklag hath pertained unto the kings of Judah, unto this day. And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines became a year and four months.
And, all his servants, were passing on beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, - and, all the Gittites - six hundred men, who had accompanied him from Gath, - were passing on before the king. Then said the king, unto Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore shouldest, thou also, go with us? return and abide with the king, for, a stranger, art thou, moreover also, an exile, art thou from thine own country. read more. Only yesterday, camest thou, and, today, shall I let thee wander with us, on our journey, seeing that, I, am going, whithersoever I may? Return and take back thy brethren with thee, and may Yahweh deal with thee in lovingkindness and faithfulness. But Ittai answered the king, and said, - By the life of Yahweh, and by the life of my lord the king, surely, in whatsoever place, my lord the king, may be, whether for death or for life, there will, thy servant, be. Then said David unto Ittai - Go, and pass on. So Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
And it canto to pass, after this, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, - and took Gath and her villages, out of the hand of the Philistines.
So he went forth and made war against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, - and built cities in 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 which faceth Egypt, even as far as the boundary of Ekron, northward, to the Canaanites, is it counted, - five princes of Philistines, the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites, also the Avvim
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said - What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel. And so it was, after they had taken it round, then was the hand of Yahweh against the city, with an exceeding great consternation, and he smote the men of the city, from the least, even unto the greatest, - and they brake out with tumours.
Now, these, are the golden boils which, the Philistines returned as a guilt-offering unto Yahweh, - For Ashdod, one, for Gaza, one, for Ashkelon, one, for Gath, one, for Ekron, one;
And there came forth a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath, his name, from Gath, - his height, six cubits and a span;
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath.
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath.
And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him passed over, unto Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David abode with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, - David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal, the Carmelite. read more. And, when it was told Saul, that David had fled to Gath, he added no more, to seek him.
Do not tell it in Gath, Do not publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, - lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the Uncircumcised triumph.
And it came to pass, after this, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, - and David took the bridle of the metropolis, out of the hand of the Philistines.
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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There was left remaining none of the Anakim, in the land of the sons of Israel, - save only, in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain.
from the Shihor which faceth Egypt, even as far as the boundary of Ekron, northward, to the Canaanites, is it counted, - five princes of Philistines, the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites, also the Avvim
And so it was, after they had taken it round, then was the hand of Yahweh against the city, with an exceeding great consternation, and he smote the men of the city, from the least, even unto the greatest, - and they brake out with tumours.
And they said - What shall be the guilt-offering, that we shall return to him? And they said - By the number of the lords of the Philistines, five tumours of gold, and five mice of gold, - for, one plague, was on you all, and on your lords. Wherefore ye shall make likenesses of your turnouts, and likenesses of your mice that are laying waste the land, and shall, give unto the, God of Israel, glory, - Peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your god, and from off your land.
The men, therefore, did so, and took two milch kine, and fastened them in the waggon, - but, their calves, shut they up in the shed. And they put the ark of Yahweh, into the waggon, - also the coffer, with the mice of gold, and the likenesses of their tumours. read more. And the kine went straight along the road, on the way to Beth-shemesh, yea, along the main highway, they went, lowing as they went, turning not aside, to the right hand or to the left. And, the lords of the Philistines, went along after them, as far as the bounds of Beth-shemesh. Now, they of Beth-shemesh, were reaping their wheat-harvest in the vale, - so they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to meet it. And, the waggon, entered into the field of Joshua, a man of Beth-shemesh, and stood still, there, where also, was a great stone, - so they clave into pieces the planks of the waggon, and, the kine, offered they up as an ascending-sacrifice, unto Yahweh. And, the Levites, took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, wherein were the jewels of gold, and put them upon the great stone, - and, the men of Beth-shemesh, caused to go up ascending-offerings and offered sacrifices, that day, unto Yahweh. And, the five lords of the Philistines, saw it, - and returned unto Ekron, the same day. Now, these, are the golden boils which, the Philistines returned as a guilt-offering unto Yahweh, - For Ashdod, one, for Gaza, one, for Ashkelon, one, for Gath, one, for Ekron, one; And the golden mice, by the number of all the cities of the Philistines, pertaining to the five lords, both fortified cities, and country villages, - yea, even the great meadow whereon they rested the ark of Yahweh, until this day, is in the field-land of Joshua, the man of Beth-shemesh.
And the Philistines gathered together their hosts, unto battle, and they were gathered together unto Socoh, which belongeth unto Judah, - and they encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim;
Then arose the men of Israel and Judah, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, as far as the entrance into Gath, and as far as the gates of Ekron, - and the slain of the Philistines fell in the way to the two gates, even as far as Gath and as far as Ekron.
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not, this, David, king of the land? Was it not, of this man, that they kept responding in the dances, saying, Saul, hath smitten his, thousands, but, David, his, tens of thousands? read more. And David laid up these words in his heart, - and feared greatly, because of Achish king of Gath. So he feigned himself mad, in their sight, and raged in their hand, - and struck against the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, - Lo! ye can see, a madman playing his pranks, wherefore should ye bring him in, unto me? Lacking of madmen, am I that ye should bring in this one to play his mad pranks, unto me? Shall, this, one enter my household?
And Achish believed in David, saying, - He hath made himself, odious, unto his own people, unto Israel, therefore shall he be my servant all his life long.
And it came to pass, after this, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, - and David took the bridle of the metropolis, out of the hand of the Philistines.
And, all his servants, were passing on beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, - and, all the Gittites - six hundred men, who had accompanied him from Gath, - were passing on before the king. Then said the king, unto Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore shouldest, thou also, go with us? return and abide with the king, for, a stranger, art thou, moreover also, an exile, art thou from thine own country. read more. Only yesterday, camest thou, and, today, shall I let thee wander with us, on our journey, seeing that, I, am going, whithersoever I may? Return and take back thy brethren with thee, and may Yahweh deal with thee in lovingkindness and faithfulness. But Ittai answered the king, and said, - By the life of Yahweh, and by the life of my lord the king, surely, in whatsoever place, my lord the king, may be, whether for death or for life, there will, thy servant, be. Then said David unto Ittai - Go, and pass on. So Ittai the Gittite passed on, with all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
And there was yet again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, - when Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim of Bethlehem, smote Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And there was yet again a battle in Gath; when there was a man of stature, with six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he also, having been born to the giant; read more. but, when he reproached Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah David's brother, smote, him. These four, had been born to the giant in Gath, - but they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
So the king charged Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him, that he died, - and, the kingdom, was established in the hand of Solomon.
Then, came up Hazael, king of Syria, and fought against Gath, and captured it, - so Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem.
He, smote the Philistines, as far as Gazah, and her boundaries, - from the watchmen's tower even to the fortified city.
So he went forth and made war against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, - and built cities in Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
Do not rejoice, Philistia, any of thee, In that the rod of him that smote thee, is broken, - For, out of the root of the serpent, shall come forth, a viper, And his fruit be a fiery dragon that flieth. Then shall feed the firstborn of the poor, And the needy, in confidence lie down, - And I will kill with famine thy root, And thy residue, shall be slain. read more. Howl - O gate, Make outcry - O city, Dispersed art thou Philistia, all of thee, - For out of the north, a smoke cometh in, With no straggler in his ranks. What, then, shall one answer the messengers of a nation? That Yahweh, hath founded Zion, And in her, shall seek refuge the oppressed of his people.
Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Gaza, and because of four, will I not turn it back, - Because of their taking into exile the whole body of exiles, to deliver to Edom,
Pass ye over to Calneh, and see, and go on from thence to Hamath the great, - and go down to Gath of the Philistines, are they better than these kingdoms? or their boundary larger than your boundary?
For, Gaza, forsaken, shall be, and, Ashkelon, a desolation, - Ashdod! at high noon, shall they drive her forth, and, Ekron, be uprooted: Alas! for the inhabitants of the line of the sea, the nation of Kerethim, - The word of Yahweh, is against you, O Canaan of the land of the Philistines, therefore will I destroy thee, to the last inhabitant.
Ashkelon, shall see, and fear, Gaza, also, which shall writhe in great anguish, Ekron, also, because abashed is her expectation, - and the king, shall perish, from Gaza, and, Ashkelon, not be inhabited; And there shall be seated a half-breed in Ashdod, - So will I cut off the arrogance 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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There was left remaining none of the Anakim, in the land of the sons of Israel, - save only, in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain.
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said - What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel.
Then sent they the ark of God to Ekron, - and so it was, when the ark of God entered Ekron, that the Ekronites made outcry, saying - They have brought round unto me the ark of the God of Israel, to slay me, and my people!
And there came forth a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath, his name, from Gath, - his height, six cubits and a span;
Then arose the men of Israel and Judah, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, as far as the entrance into Gath, and as far as the gates of Ekron, - and the slain of the Philistines fell in the way to the two gates, even as far as Gath and as far as Ekron.
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath.
And, all his servants, were passing on beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, - and, all the Gittites - six hundred men, who had accompanied him from Gath, - were passing on before the king.
So Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath, unto Achish, to seek his servants - and Shimei went and brought in his servants, from Gath.
Then, came up Hazael, king of Syria, and fought against Gath, and captured it, - so Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem.
and Zabad his son and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead, - but the men of Gath who had been born in the land slew them, because they had come down to take away their cattle.
And it canto to pass, after this, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, - and took Gath and her villages, out of the hand of the Philistines.
But, I, have built a house as a home for thee, - A settled place for thee to abide in, for ages.
So he went forth and made war against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, - and built cities in 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 sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said - What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel.
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath.
And David laid up these words in his heart, - and feared greatly, because of Achish king of Gath.
And David arose, and he and the six hundred men that were with him passed over, unto Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David abode with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, - David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal, the Carmelite. read more. And, when it was told Saul, that David had fled to Gath, he added no more, to seek him.
And it canto to pass, after this, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, - and took Gath and her villages, out of the hand of the Philistines.
In Gath, do not tell, in Accho, do not weep, - in Beth-l'aphrah, roll yourselves in dust.
For, Gaza, forsaken, shall be, and, Ashkelon, a desolation, - Ashdod! at high noon, shall they drive her forth, and, Ekron, be uprooted:
Ashkelon, shall see, and fear, Gaza, also, which shall writhe in great anguish, Ekron, also, because abashed is her expectation, - and the king, shall perish, from Gaza, and, Ashkelon, not be inhabited; And there shall be seated a half-breed in Ashdod, - So will I cut off the arrogance 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 which faceth Egypt, even as far as the boundary of Ekron, northward, to the Canaanites, is it counted, - five princes of Philistines, the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites, also the Avvim
And there came forth a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath, his name, from Gath, - his height, six cubits and a span;
Now, as he was speaking with them, lo! the champion coming up, Goliath the Philistine, by name, of Gath, coming up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and he spake according to these words, - and David heard them .
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath.
Then arose David, and fled, that day, from the face of Saul, - and came in unto Achish, king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not, this, David, king of the land? Was it not, of this man, that they kept responding in the dances, saying, Saul, hath smitten his, thousands, but, David, his, tens of thousands? read more. And David laid up these words in his heart, - and feared greatly, because of Achish king of Gath. So he feigned himself mad, in their sight, and raged in their hand, - and struck against the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, - Lo! ye can see, a madman playing his pranks, wherefore should ye bring him in, unto me? Lacking of madmen, am I that ye should bring in this one to play his mad pranks, unto me? Shall, this, one enter my household?
Then, came up Hazael, king of Syria, and fought against Gath, and captured it, - so Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem.
Pass ye over to Calneh, and see, and go on from thence to Hamath the great, - and go down to Gath of the Philistines, are they better than these kingdoms? or their boundary larger than your boundary?
For, Gaza, forsaken, shall be, and, Ashkelon, a desolation, - Ashdod! at high noon, shall they drive her forth, and, Ekron, be uprooted:
Ashkelon, shall see, and fear, Gaza, also, which shall writhe in great anguish, Ekron, also, because abashed is her expectation, - and the king, shall perish, from Gaza, and, Ashkelon, not be inhabited; And there shall be seated a half-breed in Ashdod, - So will I cut off the arrogance 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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And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even as far as Gath; even the boundaries thereof, did Israel rescue out of the hand of the Philistines, - thus came there to be peace between Israel and the Amorites.