GATH PIO and raft). One of the five royal cities of the Philistines (Josh. xiii. 3). It is first mentioned by Joshua as one of the few places in Palestine in which the giant race of Anak were left after the conquest of Palestine (xi. 22). Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, was a Gittite, and of the Anakim ( I Sam. xvii. IS). Another remark able man of the same mce is mentioned in 2 Sa.m. xxi. 20-22. When the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant they carried it first to the temple of Dagon at Ashdod, thence to Gath, and finally to Ekron (r Sam. v.) Among the most singular episodes in the history of David was his adventure at Gath, whither he tled from Saul. Ile thought Ile would not he recognised, and that as a refuge from the Israelitish court he would be welcomed. But he was at once recognised as the conqueror of Goliath, and his f-ate appeared to be sealed. How ever, lie feigned himself mad in their hands,' and acted so successfully that he deceived Achish the king, and was dismissed (xxi. to, seq). To this romantic incident we owe one of the most beautiful odes in the Bible, the 56th Psalm. A few years later David returned to Gath, and. was well received by prince and people, probably because they were now fully informed of the deadly hostility which existed between him and Saul (xxvii.) He appears to have succeeded in attathing so devotedly to his person and cause some of the brave Gittites, that they ever afterwards constituted part of his body guard, and were his staunchest friends (2 Sam vi. to; xv. r8-22, etc.) When David came to the throne he captured Gath ; but it does not appear to have remained in possession of the Ismelities (1 Chron. XViii. I; I Kings ii. 39). Gath was the scene of many a fierce contest during his reign and those of his two successors (2 Sam. xxi. 2o). ft was captured by Hazael, King of Syria, during the reign of Jehoash (n.c. 856). The most signal vic tory ever gained by the Israelites over the Philis tines was under the youthful king Uzziali, who dismantled Galli with their other principal fortresses (2 Citron. xxvi. 1-7). The city appears to have
been in ruins in the time of Amos (vi. 2); and with the exception of an incidental allusion to it in a proverb (Mic. i. to), We hear no more of it in history. It is not enumerated by the later prophets with the other royal cities of Philistia (Zeph. ii. 4; Zech. ix. 5, 6).
The site of Gath has long been a subject of diffi culty and controversy among sacred geographers. Its exact position is not indicated in Scripture. There are, however, some incidental references which point with tolerable definiteness to the dis trict in which it must have stood. From its having been the scene of such frequent contests between the Israelites and Philistines, we conclude that it lay upon the border; that is, in the plain, close to the foot of the hills of Judah. This is corrobo rated by the wonls of t Sam. vii. 4; `The cities which the Philistines bad taken from Israel were restored fivin Ekron unto Gath.' The former city we know was upon the north-east border of Philistia; and Gath was thus farther south, on the border also. Again, in t Chron. viii. 13 it is said that 6 Beriah and Shemah were the heads of the inhabi tants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath.' Aijalon lay at the foot of the mountains near the north-east angle of Philistia; and it would seem that Gath was not far distant from it. In Chron. xi. 8, Gath is nientioned in connection with Shochoh and Adullam, which were a few miles south of Bethshemesh. Josephus places Gath within the tribe of Dan, which did not extend much south of Bethshemesh (Antig. v. I. 22; Josh. xx. 40). We may also infer that it lay on or near the road leading from Shochoh to Ekron ; for when the Philistines fled on the death of Goliath, Saul pur sued them by 'the way of Sharaim, even unto Gath and unto Ekron'—the same way led to both cities (t Sam. xvii. 52).