Gath @ a wine-vat, one of the five royal cities of the Philistines Joshua:13:3) on which the ark brought calamity ( 1Samuel:5:8-91Samuel:6:17). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath ( 1Samuel:17:4). David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath ( 1Samuel:21:101Samuel:27:2-4; Psalms:56), and his connection with it will account for the words in 2Samuel:1:20. It was afterwards conquered by David ( 2Samuel:8:1). It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia ( 1Samuel:21:10; 1Chronicles: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.)
Gath-hepher @ wine-press of the well, a town of Lower Galilee, about 5 miles from Nazareth; the birthplace of Jonah ( 2Kings:14:25); the same as Gittah-hepher Joshua:19:13). It has been identified with the modern el-Meshed, a village on the top of a rocky hill. Here the supposed tomb of Jonah, Neby Yunas, is still pointed out.
GATH@ - (a wine press), one of the five royal cities of the Philistines; Joshua:13:3; 1Samuel:6:17) and the native place of the giant Goliath. ( 1Samuel:17:41Samuel:17:23) 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, ( 2Chronicles:11:8) on the border of Judah and Philistia, ( 1Samuel:21:10; 1Chronicles: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. ( 2Kings:12:17; 2Chronicles:11:82Chronicles: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. ( 1Samuel:21:10-15)
GATHHEPHER, OR GITTAHHEPHER @ - (wine-press on the hill), a town on the border of the territory of Zebulun, not far from Japhia, now ’Yafa , Joshua:19:12-13) celebrated as the native place of the prophet Jonah. ( 2Kings:14:25) El-Meshhad , a village two-miles east of Sefurieh , is the ancient Gath-hepher.
GATHRIMMON @ - (press of the pomegranate) A city given out of the tribe of Dan to the Levites. Joshua:21:24; 1Chronicles:6:69) situated on the plain of Philistia, apparently not far from Joppa. Joshua:19:45) A town of the half tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, assigned to the Levites. Joshua:21:25) The reading Gath-rimmon is probably an error of the transcribers.
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