Atomic Bible

Philistine city; home of Goliath; refuge for David

Gath

Named in 40 verses across 9 books, first in Joshua 11:22.

גַּתGath

גַּיְאGath

גִּתִּיGittite

מֶתֶג הָאַמָּהMetheg-ammah

Also called Gittite, Metheg-ammah.

The name means “a wine-press.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Gath Written by AI

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 (1Sa.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 (1Sa.21.10-15). Later, David returned to Gath and served under King Achish, who gave him the town of Ziklag (1Sa.27.2-6). The city was captured by David during his reign as king (1Ch.18.1), and it was also attacked by later Israelite kings, such as Uzziah (2Ch.26.6) and Hezekiah (2Ki.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 (2Sa.6.10-11). Gath is also mentioned in prophetic texts, such as Amo.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.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

A wine-vat, one of the five royal cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3) on which the ark brought calamity (1 Sam. 5:8, 9; 6:17). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4). David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath (1 Sam. 21:10; 27:2-4; Ps. 56), and his connection with it will account for the words in 2 Sam. 1:20. It was afterwards conquered by David (2 Sam. 8:1). It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia (1 Sam. 21:10; 1 Chr. 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 METHEGAMMAH.)

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

31.694, 34.844 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Joshua 11:22

    No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.

  2. Joshua 13:3

    from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;

  3. 1 Samuel 5:8

    So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.

  4. 1 Samuel 6:17

    As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

  5. 1 Samuel 7:14

    The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

  6. 1 Samuel 17:4

    Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,

  7. 1 Samuel 17:23

    And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.

  8. 1 Samuel 17:52

    Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

  9. 1 Samuel 21:10

    That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

  10. 1 Samuel 21:12

    Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

  11. 1 Samuel 27:2

    So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

  12. 1 Samuel 27:3

    David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

  13. 1 Samuel 27:4

    And when Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.

  14. 1 Samuel 27:11

    David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us, saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.

  15. 2 Samuel 1:20

    Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

  16. 2 Samuel 6:10

    So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

  17. 2 Samuel 6:11

    Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.

  18. 2 Samuel 8:1

    Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

  19. 2 Samuel 15:18

    and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

  20. 2 Samuel 15:19

    Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

  21. 2 Samuel 15:22

    “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

  22. 2 Samuel 18:2

    He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”

  23. 2 Samuel 21:19

    Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

  24. 2 Samuel 21:20

    And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha,

  25. 2 Samuel 21:22

    So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

  26. 1 Kings 2:39

    After three years, however, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”

  27. 1 Kings 2:40

    So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.

  28. 1 Kings 2:41

    When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,

  29. 2 Kings 12:17

    At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.

  30. 1 Chronicles 7:21

    Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the natives of Gath, because they went down to steal their livestock.

  31. 1 Chronicles 8:13

    and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath).

  32. 1 Chronicles 13:13

    So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

  33. 1 Chronicles 18:1

    Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.

  34. 1 Chronicles 20:5

    Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

  35. 1 Chronicles 20:6

    And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha,

  36. 1 Chronicles 20:8

    So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

  37. 2 Chronicles 11:8

    Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

  38. 2 Chronicles 26:6

    Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines.

  39. Amos 6:2

    Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to the great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?

  40. Micah 1:10

    Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.