Gath

Biblical Text

Gath was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17). The principal accounts are as follows:

• Even after Israel entered Canaan, descendants of Anak remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Joshua 11:22).
• When the Philistines moved the captured Ark of the Covenant from Ashdod to Gath, calamity struck the city, and the Philistines sent the ark on to Ekron (1 Samuel 5:8–10).
• Goliath is introduced as being "of Gath" (1 Samuel 17:4).
• David, fleeing from Saul, went to Achish king of Gath and escaped by feigning madness (1 Samuel 21:10–15). Later he placed himself under Achish's protection and received Ziklag (1 Samuel 27).
• David's lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan includes the line "Tell it not in Gath" (2 Samuel 1:20).
• When Absalom rebelled, Ittai the Gittite followed David (2 Samuel 15:18–22).
• Later, Rehoboam fortified Gath (2 Chronicles 11:8), Hazael king of Aram (Syria) captured it (2 Kings 12:17), and Uzziah broke down its wall (2 Chronicles 26:6).

Background

The Hebrew word gat means "winepress," a place where grapes were trodden to extract their juice. Gath lay at the eastern edge of Philistine territory, near the low foothills that rise toward the hill country of Judah. It was thus situated in the border region where Israel and the Philistines came into conflict. Many scholars identify Tell es-Safi in modern Israel as the site of Gath.

Other place names containing "Gath," such as Gath-hepher, the hometown of Jonah (2 Kings 14:25), refer to locations distinct from Philistine Gath. Gath should also be distinguished from Gad, one of the tribes of Israel.

Significance in the Bible as a Whole

Gath is portrayed as a stronghold of the Philistine power that threatened Israel. The prophets cited Gath as an example of a fallen city (Amos 6:2). Micah used the expression "Declare ye it not at Gath" (Micah 1:10), which recalls David's lament. Gath is absent from the lists of Philistine cities in Amos 1:6–8, Zephaniah 2:4, and Zechariah 9:5–6; some scholars attribute this omission to Gath's having already declined by that time. Gath is not mentioned directly in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• The superscription of Psalm 34 states that David feigned madness before "Abimelech," a name different from that of Achish in 1 Samuel 21. Some explain Abimelech as a title for Philistine kings, while others regard the difference as a variation in tradition. The superscription of Psalm 56 likewise connects the psalm with the time when the Philistines seized David in Gath.
• Interpretations differ regarding David's feigned madness and his seeking refuge with an enemy king. Some read these episodes as wisdom exercised in a crisis, while others read them as signs of weakened faith.
• Gath is often called "the city of giants" on the basis of the account of the descendants of Anak (Joshua 11:22) and the accounts of the mighty warriors from Gath (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8). The text, however, does not describe the entire population of Gath as giants.

In the Korean Church

In Sunday school lessons and sermons on the story of David and Goliath, Gath is usually introduced as Goliath's hometown.