Reference: Gittites

See GATH.

(See GATH) The 600 who followed David from Gath under "Ittai the Gittites," "a stranger and an exile" (2Sa 15:18-20). Obed Edom, being a Levite, must have derived his title "the Gittite" from some incidental connection with Gath; others derive his name from the Levitical city of Gath-rimmon (2Sa 6:10); but it seems strange if "Gittite" be used in one sense of Ittai of Gath, and in a different sense of Obed Edom (1Ch 26:4).

Git'tites

Designation of the six hundred men as inhabitants of Gath, and of their leader Ittai, who followed David at Absalom's revolt. 2Sa 15:18-22; 18:2. Goliath also was a Gittite. 2Sa 21:19; 1Ch 20:5. Obed-edom, though a Levite, was also called a Gittite, probably because of residing at Gath or Gath-rimmon. 2Sa 6:10-11; 1Ch 13:13.

Git'tites

(belonging to Gath), the 600 men who followed David from Gath, under Ittai the Gittite,

2Sa 15:18-19

and who probably acted as a kind of body-guard. Obed-edom "the Gittite" may have been so named from the town of Gittaim in Benjamin,

2Sa 4:3; Ne 11:33

or from Gath-rimmon.