Philistine plain (Shephelah) · Old Testament · 30 verses
Gath was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, on the western plain. It was the home town of Goliath. The name appears in Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel and 6 more in the King James text.
About Gath
Gath was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, on the western plain. It was the home town of Goliath.
Its place in the story
Goliath of Gath was the giant defeated by David, and David later took refuge at Gath among the Philistines while fleeing Saul. Gath appears often in the wars between Israel and the Philistines.
Gath in Scripture (KJV)
“There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.”
“They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.”
“And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;”
“And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.”
“And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.”
“And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.”
Gath is named 30 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.
Where it leads
David's victory over the champion of Gath is a picture of God saving his people through an unlikely deliverer, pointing to the greater victory in Christ.
Gath was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, on the western plain. It was the home town of Goliath. The name appears in Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel and 6 more in the King James text.
What happened at Gath?
Goliath of Gath was the giant defeated by David, and David later took refuge at Gath among the Philistines while fleeing Saul. Gath appears often in the wars between Israel and the Philistines.