Gath

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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One of the five royal cities of the Philistines, and to which Goliath belonged. It is not mentioned as having been given to any of the tribes. It was to this city that the ark was carried when taken in war (1 Sam. 5:88They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. (1 Samuel 5:8)). To Achish king of Gath David resorted when his faith failed him as to God’s protection (1 Sam. 27:2-42And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. (1 Samuel 27:2‑4); compare 1 Sam. 21:10,1210And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. (1 Samuel 21:10)
12And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. (1 Samuel 21:12)). Afterward when he was king and in power he took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. Uzziah also fought against the place and broke down its walls (1 Chron. 18:11Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. (1 Chronicles 18:1); 2 Chron. 26:66And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. (2 Chronicles 26:6). After Micah 1:1010Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. (Micah 1:10) we hear no more of Gath among the cities of the Philistines (compare Zeph. 2:44For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. (Zephaniah 2:4); Zech. 9:5-65Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. (Zechariah 9:5‑6)). It may have been ruined. Its site is identified with Tell es Safi, 31° 43' N, 34° 51' E, where there are extensive ruins and cisterns hewn out of the rock. It commanded the entrance to the valley of Elah.