גֹּב
Gob, a place in Palestine
Definition
Gob is a proper noun referring to a location in ancient Palestine, mentioned only in the context of two battles between the Israelites and the Philistines. In 2 Samuel 21:18, a battle at Gob results in the death of the Philistine giant Saph (or Sippai). In the subsequent verse, 2 Samuel 21:19, another battle at Gob is described where Elhanan kills Goliath the Gittite. The exact location of Gob remains uncertain, though some scholars suggest it may be the same site later known as Gezer, a significant Philistine stronghold. Its primary significance is as a geographical marker for these military conflicts during King David's reign.
Biblical Usage
The word 'Gob' is used exclusively in 2 Samuel 21:18-19, within a narrative recounting several wars between Israel and the Philistines. It appears solely as a place name specifying the location of two separate battles. Both occurrences are in identical, formulaic contexts: 'And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob...' This repetition establishes Gob as a repeated flashpoint for conflict. No other biblical book references this location.
Etymology
The Hebrew word גֹּב (Gôb) or its fuller form גּוֹב likely derives from the root גּוּב (gûv, H1461), meaning 'to dig' or 'a pit or ditch.' This etymology suggests the place may have been named for a geographical feature like a cistern, trench, or hollow. As a proper noun, its meaning is fixed to the location, though the root connection implies a possible topographical characteristic of the site.
Semantic Range
As a place name, Gob's cultural context is that of a Philistine-held town or battlefield during the early Israelite monarchy. Its mention highlights the ongoing, intense territorial and military struggle between Israel and the Philistine city-states. The fact that major battles involving giants (Rephaim) occurred there (2 Samuel 21:18, 2 Samuel 21:19) may indicate it was a strategically important or symbolically charged location for the Philistine military presence.
Gezer (H1507) — A major Canaanite/Philistine city; some scholars propose Gob may be an earlier name for or location near Gezer.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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