Gath(gittite)
“Winepress”
Summary
One of the five royal cities of the Philistines, famous as the home of the giant Goliath and where David twice took refuge from Saul.
☩A Philistine Stronghold
Gath, meaning 'winepress,' was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines. It was a fortified city occupying a strong position on the border between Philistia and Judah. The Anakim giants remained there after Joshua's conquest, including Goliath and others of great stature whom David and his men later killed.
☩David and Gath
When persecuted by Saul, David twice fled to Achish, king of Gath. The first time he feigned madness to escape. Later he returned with 600 men, and Achish gave him Ziklag as a residence, where David stayed over a year. Gittites from Gath later became loyal soldiers in David's army under Ittai.
☩Later History
David captured Gath after becoming king, and Rehoboam fortified it. Yet it continued to change hands—captured by Hazael of Syria, recovered by Jehoash, and later besieged by Uzziah who broke down its walls. The prophets notably omit Gath from later lists of Philistine cities, suggesting its early destruction.
Related Verses45 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Gath," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Gath," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Gath," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Gath," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).