Gath
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a wine-vat, one of the five royal cities of the Philistines ( Joshua 13:3 ) on which the ark brought calamity ( 1 Samuel 5:8 1 Samuel 5:9 ; 6:17 ). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17:4 ). David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath ( 1 Samuel 21:10 ; 27:2-4 ; Psalms 56 ), and his connection with it will account for the words in 2 Samuel 1:20 . It was afterwards conquered by David ( 2 Samuel 8:1 ). It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia ( 1 Samuel 21:10 ; 1 Chronicles 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 M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[H] indicates this entry was also found in Hitchcock's Bible Names
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. "Entry for Gath". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".