Gath (city)

Gath ( Hebrew : "winepress") was one of the five Philistine city states established in southwestern Palestine . It was the home city of Goliath . To date, archaeological evidence has not established the location of this city, which figures prominently in the Books of Samuel . v t e

Archaeological findings at Gath Gath , Gat , or Geth ( , Winepress ; ), often referred to as Gath of the Philistines , was one of the five Philistine city-states , established in northwestern Philistia. According to the Bible, the king of the city was Achish , in the times of Saul , David , and Solomon . It is not certain whether this refers to two or more kings of the name 'Achish' or not. Gath was also the home city of Goliath and his brothers, as well as of Itai and his 600 soldiers who aided David in his exile from Absalom . David, while running from Saul , escaped to Gath, and served under its king Achish. During Solomon 's reign, Shemei goes to Gath to return his escaped slave ( HE with invalid book ). In HE with invalid book , the city of Gath is mentioned as being captured by Hazael of Aram Damascus . Recent excavations at the site have produced dramatic evidence of a siege and subsequent destruction of the site in the late 9th century BC, most probably related to this event, although a stone inscription disclosing the name of the city has yet to be discovered. Gath is also mentioned in the El-Amarna letters as Gimti/Gintu , ruled by a king Shuwardata , and possibly by Abdi-Ashtart as well. The site most favored as the location of Gath is Tel es-Safit, also called "Tel Zafit" in Tel Tzafit National Park .

Archaeological findings at Gath ( Tell es-Safi ) Gath or Gat ( Biblical Hebrew : – Gaṯ , wine press ; ), often referred to as Gath of the Philistines , was one of the five Philistine city-states , established in northeastern Philistia . Gath is often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and its existence is confirmed by Egyptian inscriptions. Gath is mentioned in the El-Amarna letters as Gimti/Gintu , ruled by the two Shuwardata and ʿAbdi-Ashtarti. Another Gath, known as Ginti-kirmil (Gath of Carmel) also appears in the Amarna letters. The site most favored as the location of Gath is the archaeological mound or tell known as Tell es-Safi in Arabic and Tel Zafit in Hebrew (sometimes written Tel Tzafit), located inside Tel Zafit National Park , but a stone inscription disclosing the name of the city has yet to be discovered. Recent excavations at the site have produced dramatic evidence of a siege and subsequent destruction of the site in the late 9th century BCE, which can be related to the biblical verse that mentions its capture by Hazael of Aram Damascus . A Gittite is a person from Gath. On the two rulers of Gath, see Nadav Naʾaman of Tel Aviv University, " The Shephelah according to the Amarna Letters ", page 282.

Ancient Philistine city and modern archaeological site in Israel Archaeological findings at Tell es-Safi Gath or Gat ( ; , Philistine : 𐤂𐤕 * Gīt ) was one of the five cities of the Philistine pentapolis during the Iron Age . It was located in northeastern Philistia , close to the border with Judah . Gath is often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and its existence is confirmed by Egyptian inscriptions. Already of significance during the Bronze Age , the city is believed to be mentioned in the El-Amarna letters as Gimti/Gintu , ruled by the two Shuwardata and 'Abdi-Ashtarti. Another Gath, known as Ginti-kirmil (Gath of Carmel) also appears in the Amarna letters. The site most favored as the location of Gath is the archaeological mound or tell known as Tell es-Safi in Arabic and Tel Zafit in Hebrew (sometimes written Tel Tzafit), located inside Tel Zafit National Park , but a stone inscription disclosing the name of the city has yet to be discovered. Archaeologists believe it was the largest city of the Southern Levant during the 10th and 9th centuries BCE. Recent excavations have uncovered dramatic evidence of a siege and subsequent destruction of the site in the late 9th century BCE, which can be related to the biblical verse that mentions its capture by Hazael of Aram Damascus . A Gittite is a person from Gath. On the two rulers of Gath, see Nadav Naʾaman of Tel Aviv University, " The Shephelah according to the Amarna Letters ", page 282. To start with, we believe that the identification of Tell es-Safi/Gath as Gintu of the el-Amarna texts ( Maeir 2012 ) is to be accepted.

Ancient city and archaeological site Part of the remains of Tell es-Safi Gath or Gat ( Hebrew : גַּת , romanized : Gaṯ , lit. ' wine press ' ; Latin : Geth , Philistine : 𐤂𐤕 * Gīt ) was one of the five cities of the Philistine pentapolis during the Iron Age . It was located in northeastern Philistia , close to the border with Judah . Gath is often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and its existence is confirmed by Egyptian inscriptions. Already of significance during the Bronze Age , the city is believed to be mentioned in the El-Amarna letters as Gimti/Gintu , ruled by the two Shuwardata and 'Abdi-Ashtarti. Another Gath, known as Ginti-kirmil (Gath of Carmel) also appears in the Amarna letters. The site most favored as the location of Gath is the archaeological mound or tell known as Tell es-Safi in Arabic and Tel Zafit in Hebrew (sometimes written Tel Tzafit), located inside Tel Zafit National Park , but a stone inscription disclosing the name of the city has yet to be discovered. A Gittite is a person from Gath. On the two rulers of Gath, see Nadav Naʾaman of Tel Aviv University, " The Shephelah according to the Amarna Letters ", page 282. To start with, we believe that the identification of Tell es-Safi/Gath as Gintu of the el-Amarna texts ( Maeir 2012 ) is to be accepted.