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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