Lexical Definition
גַּת Gath (gath) Gath N:N--L
the same as גַּת
Gath.
- § Gath = "winepress"
- Gath, a Philistine city
1) one of the five royal or chief cities of the Philistines and the native city of Goliath
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. גַּת proper name, of a location (wine-press) — Philistine city ᵐ5 Γεθ, ᵑ9 Geth, JosAnt. «JOSEPHUS:Antiquities 6:12»vi. 12, 2 etc., Γιττα (ed. Niese), exact site unknown (see GASmGeog. 194 ff.), named with Gaza and Ashdod Josh 11:22 as home of remaining `Anakim; named with Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon and `Ekron 1Sam 6:17 with Ashkelon 1Sam 1:20 with Ashkelon, yabne and Ashdod 2Chr 26:6 מֵעֶקְרוֺן וְעַדגַּֿת 1Sam 7:14, compare 1Sam 17:52b and also v1Sam 17:52a (read גַּת for גַּיְא ᵐ5 We Dr); called גַּת פְּלִשְׁתִּים Amos 6:2 built up by Rehoboam, according to 2Chr 11:8 taken by Hazael 2Kgs 12:18* also 1Sam 5:8; 1Sam 17:4; 1Sam 17:23 (of Goliath), compare 2Sam 21:20; 2Sam 21:22 = 1Chr 20:6; 1Chr 20:8; 1Sam 21:11*; 1Sam 21:13*; 1Sam 27:2; 1Sam 27:3; 1Sam 27:4; 1Sam 27:11; 1Sam 2:18; 1Sam 1:39 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 2:40; 1Kgs 2:41; Ps 56:1*; Mic 1:10; Mic 1:14; 1Chr 7:21; 1Chr 8:13, also 1Chr 18:1 (but || מֶתֶג אַמָּה 2Sam 8:1 on change of this into reading in Chronicles see We); with ה locative, גַּ֫תָּה 1Kgs 2:40.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Joshua | 11:22 |
| 1 Samuel | 1:20 · 1:39 · 2:18 · 5:8 · 6:17 · 7:14 · 17:4 · 17:23 · 17:52 · 21:11* · 21:13* · 27:2 · 27:3 · 27:4 · 27:11 |
| 2 Samuel | 8:1 · 21:20 · 21:22 |
| 1 Kings | 2:40 · 2:41 |
| 2 Kings | 12:18* |
| 1 Chronicles | 7:21 · 8:13 · 18:1 · 20:6 · 20:8 |
| 2 Chronicles | 11:8 · 26:6 |
| Psalms | 56:1* |
| Amos | 6:2 |
| Micah | 1:10 · 1:14 |
Profile
Gath • In Philistia • Philistine city; home of Goliath; refuge for David
Gath, one of the five major Philistine cities, was the hometown of Goliath and a place of refuge for David during his flight from Saul.
- A location in Philistia first mentioned at Jos.11.22;
- referred to as Gath גַּת, or Gath גַּיְא, or Gath or Gittite גִּתִּי, or Metheg-ammah (NIV= Metheg Ammah) מֶתֶג הָאַמָּה.
Gath was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, along with Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3). It was located in the coastal plain of Philistia, near the border with Judah. The city is mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of conflicts between the Israelites and the Philistines.
During the conquest of Canaan, Gath was one of the last strongholds of the Anakim, a race of giants (Joshua 11:22). The city gained prominence as the hometown of Goliath, the giant warrior who was defeated by David in single combat (1 Samuel 17:4, 23).
Gath played a significant role in the life of David. When fleeing from King Saul, David sought refuge in Gath, where he pretended to be insane to avoid arousing suspicion (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Later, David returned to Gath and served under King Achish, who gave him the town of Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:2-6).
The city was captured by David during his reign as king (1 Chronicles 18:1), and it was also attacked by later Israelite kings, such as Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:6) and Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8). The term "Gittite" is used to refer to people from Gath, such as Obed-Edom, in whose house the Ark of the Covenant was temporarily kept (2 Samuel 6:10-11).
Gath is also mentioned in prophetic texts, such as Amos 6:2 and Micah 1:10, which speak of the city's destruction and the fate of its inhabitants. The exact location of Gath is uncertain, but it is believed to be Tell es-Safi, an archaeological site in modern-day Israel.
All entries for Gath or Gittite or Metheg-ammah: גַּת ☩ גַּיְא ☩ גִּתִּי ☩ מֶתֶג הָאַמָּה