Gath
Location and Description
Gath, whose name means "winepress" in Hebrew, was one of the five chief cities of the Philistine confederation, alongside Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17). It was a fortified city (2 Chronicles 26:6) located in the borderland between Philistine territory and Judah, likely in the Shephelah, the low hill country between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands. The most widely accepted identification places Gath at Tell es-Safi (modern Tel Zafit), a prominent hill with precipitous cliffs offering a naturally defensible position.
Gath and the Giants
Gath was renowned as a city of giants. Its most famous citizen was Goliath, the massive warrior who challenged Israel's army in the Valley of Elah and was slain by the young David with a sling and stone (1 Samuel 17:4-51). Other giants from Gath are mentioned in Scripture, including warriors with unusual physical characteristics who were eventually defeated by David's mighty men (2 Samuel 21:18-22). The presence of these formidable warriors made Gath a particularly feared Philistine stronghold.
The Ark of the Covenant at Gath
When the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and placed it in the temple of Dagon at Ashdod, God struck the city with tumors and panic. The people of Ashdod sent the ark to Gath, but God afflicted Gath as well with a devastating plague (1 Samuel 5:8-9). The ark was then sent to Ekron, where the same suffering followed. This episode demonstrated God's power over the Philistine deity and his sovereignty even when his people had suffered military defeat.
David's Refuge in Gath
David fled to Gath twice while being pursued by King Saul. On his first visit, he was recognized and feared for his safety, so he feigned madness before Achish, the king of Gath, scratching on doors and letting saliva run down his beard until Achish dismissed him as a lunatic (1 Samuel 21:10-15). On his second visit, David was more successful, winning Achish's trust and being given the town of Ziklag as a base of operations (1 Samuel 27:2-7). David lived among the Philistines for sixteen months, conducting raids against other peoples while leading Achish to believe he was attacking Judah. This period was one of the most morally complex episodes in David's life.
Conquest and Destruction
Gath changed hands multiple times throughout its history. It was not taken by Joshua during the initial conquest (Joshua 11:22). David eventually captured it (1 Chronicles 18:1), but after the division of the kingdom, it was restored by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:8). The Philistines reoccupied it, and King Uzziah later captured and razed its walls (2 Chronicles 26:6). Hazael of Damascus also seized Gath during his campaigns against Israel and Judah (2 Kings 12:17). By the time of the prophet Amos, Gath appears to have been destroyed (Amos 6:2), and it receives no further mention in biblical history.
Tell It Not in Gath
The most memorable literary reference to Gath is David's lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan: "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice" (2 Samuel 1:20). This phrase expressed David's grief that Israel's enemies would celebrate the fall of its king. The saying became proverbial, later echoed by the prophet Micah (Micah 1:10), and has entered English usage as an expression meaning "keep this bad news secret from our enemies."
Biblical Context
Gath appears extensively in the historical books. It is listed among the Philistine cities in Joshua 13:3 and 1 Samuel 6:17. The Goliath narrative dominates 1 Samuel 17. David's flights to Gath are in 1 Samuel 21:10-15 and 27:2-7. The ark's sojourn there is in 1 Samuel 5:8-9. Its various conquests are recorded in 1 Chronicles 18:1, 2 Chronicles 11:8, 26:6, and 2 Kings 12:17. David's lament references Gath in 2 Samuel 1:20, and Amos 6:2 and Micah 1:10 mention it prophetically.
Theological Significance
Gath illustrates the Bible's theme that human strength and size cannot prevail against God's purposes. Goliath, Gath's greatest champion, fell before a shepherd boy empowered by faith in God. The plague that struck Gath when it hosted the stolen ark demonstrated that no city, however fortified, could resist God's power. David's time in Gath shows the complex moral compromises that can result from fleeing God's appointed path. The city's ultimate destruction fulfilled the prophetic expectation that Philistine power would be broken.
Historical Background
Archaeological excavations at Tell es-Safi (Tel Zafit), the leading candidate for ancient Gath, have revealed a massive and prosperous Philistine city dating to the Iron Age. Excavations have uncovered fortification walls, a large lower city, and evidence of destruction consistent with Hazael's campaign around 830 BC. Notably, a pottery shard bearing two names similar to 'Goliath' has been found at the site, demonstrating that such names were in use in Philistine Gath. The site's position on a ridge with steep cliffs on multiple sides confirms its defensive strength as described in biblical accounts.