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.
Also known as Gittite · Metheg-ammah · Metheg Ammah
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.
Approximate location: 31.694, 34.844 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
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.)
(a wine press), one of the five royal cities of the Philistines; (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17) and the native place of the giant Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:4,23) It probably stood upon the conspicuous hill now called Tell-es-Safieh, upon the side of the plain of Philistia, at the foot of the mountains of Judah; 10 miles east of Ashdod, and about the same distance south by east of Ekron. It is irregular in form, and about 200 feet high. Gath occupied a strong position, (2 Chronicles 11:8) on the border of Judah and Philistia, (1 Samuel 21:10; 1 Chronicles 18:1) and from its strength and resources forming the key of both countries, it was the scene of frequent struggles, and was often captured and recaptured. (2 Kings 12:17; 2 Chronicles 11:8; 26:6; Amos 6:2) The ravages of war to which Gath was exposed appear to have destroyed it at a comparatively early period, as it is not mentioned among the other royal cities by the later prophets. (Zephaniah 2:4; Zechariah 9:5,6) It is familiar to the Bible student as the scene of one of the most romantic incidents in the life of King David. (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
GATH (wine-press), one of the five cities of the Philistines, Josh 13:3; 1 Sam 6:17; Am 6:2; Mic 1:10; a stronghold of the Anakim, Josh 11:22; home of Goliath, 1 Sam 17:4; place whither the ark was carried, 1 Sam 5:8; where David sought refuge, 1 Sam 21:10-15; was strengthened by Rehoboam, 2 Chr 11:8; taken by Hazael of Syria, 2 Kgs 12:17; probably recovered by Jehoash, 2 Kgs 13:25; broken down by Uzziah, 2 Chr 26:6; was probably destroyed before the time of the later prophecies, as it is omitted from the list of royal cities. See Zeph 2:4; Zech 9:5-6. Thomson would identify it with Eleutheropolis, but Porter, Warren, and Conder place Gath at Tel es-Saji, 15 miles south of Ramleh and 12 miles south-east of Ashdod.
GATH (wine-press), one of the five cities of the Philistines, Josh 13:3; 1 Sam 6:17; Am 6:2; Mic 1:10; a stronghold of the Anakim, Josh 11:22; home of Goliath, 1 Sam 17:4; place whither the ark was carried, 1 Sam 5:8; where David sought refuge, 1 Sam 21:10-15; was strengthened by Rehoboam, 2 Chr 11:8; taken by Hazael of Syria, 2 Kgs 12:17; probably recovered by Jehoash, 2 Kgs 13:25; broken down by Uzziah, 2 Chr 26:6; was probably destroyed before the time of the later prophecies, as it is omitted from the list of royal cities. See Zeph 2:4; Zech 9:5-6. Thomson would identify it with Eleutheropolis, but Porter, Warren, and Conder place Gath at Tel es-Saji, 15 miles south of Ramleh and 12 miles south-east of Ashdod.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
41 verses in 10 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1661
No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.
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;
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.
As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
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.
Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height,
And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ransk of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard.
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.
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.
Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
So David set out with his six hundred men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath.
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.
And when Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
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 Davidʼs custom the whole time he lived in Philistine territory.
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.
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.
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.
Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.
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.
“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.
He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joabʼs 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.”
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 weaverʼs beam.
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,
So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.
After three years, however, two of Shimeiʼs slaves ran away to Achish son of Maacah, king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Look, your slaves are in Gath.”
So Shimei saddled his donkey and set out to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves, and he brought them back from Gath.
When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned,
At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem.
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.
and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath).
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.
Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.
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 weaverʼs beam.
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,
So these descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
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.
Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.
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?
Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.