These various notices point to one district as that in which Gath must have been namely, to the confines of Philistia, lying west of Shochoh, and south-west of Bethshemesh. There is, however, one very distinct statement of Jerome which appears to be altogether at variance with this view. In his commentary on Micah he says, Geth una est de quinque urbibus tinx, vicina Judxw confinio, et de Eleutheropoli Gazam, nunc usque vicus vel maximus ' (Opp. v. 1159, Migne's edition). This would locate it on the 'extreme south of the Philistines' territory. But in another place Jerome writes :— Ostenditur vicus (Geth) in quinto milliario ab Eleutheropoli euntibus Diospolim' (Onamast. s. v. Geth) ; and to the same effect he writes in his note Jer. xxv. 2o (Opp. iv. 838). Bonfrerius sug gests that there were several places of the same name, and this may account for the discrepancies. Eusebius mentions a Gath (or Pc00c1), between Antipatris and Jamnia (Onomast. s. v.); and the Crusaders identified Gath with Jamnia (Gesta Del, p. 886). Thomson (The Lana' and the Book, p. 565) tries to shew that Gath was the ancient name of Eleutheropolis ; but bis arguments are far from being conclusive.
The writer of this article made a journey to Philistia in 1858, one object of which was to iden tify, if possible, the site of this ancient city. After a careful examination of the country, he was led to the conclusion that Gath stood upon the hill called by the Crusaders Alba Specula, and now Tell es Saph. Its position answers in every respect to
the notices above referred to. It is about seven miles from Bethshemesh, eight from Shochoh towards Ekron, and six north of Eleutheropolis. The site is a most commanding one, and would form, when fortified, the key of Philistia. It is close to the mountains of Judah. The Tell is about 200 feet high, with steep sides, now in part termced for vineyards—Gath signifies a 'wine-press.' On the 'summit are the foundations of an old castle, pro bably that built, or rebuilt, by the Crusaders ; and all round the hill are great quantities of old build ing stones. On the north-east is a projecting shoulder, and the declivities below it appear to have been scarped. Here stands the modern village Its houses are all composed of ancient materials, and around it are ruins and fragments of columns. In the sides of the hill, especially towards the south a great number of cisterns have been excavated in the limestone rock. They are generally large square chambers with circular openings about three feet in diameter. There can be little doubt that this is the site of the long lost city of Gath (Hana'book for S. and P., 252; See Reland, Pal. 785).—J. L. P.