Where is Gath in the Bible?

What happened at Gath?

Gath was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, along with Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3). It was located in the coastal plain of Philistia, near the border with Judah. The city is mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of conflicts between the Israelites and the Philistines. During the conquest of Canaan, Gath was one of the last strongholds of the Anakim, a race of giants (Joshua 11:22). The city gained prominence as the hometown of Goliath, the giant warrior who was defeated by David in single combat (1Sa.17.4, 23). Gath played a significant role in the life of David. When fleeing from King Saul, David sought refuge in Gath, where he pretended to be insane to avoid arousing suspicion (1Sa.21.10-15). Later, David returned to Gath and served under King Achish, who gave him the town of Ziklag (1Sa.27.2-6). The city was captured by David during his reign as king (1Ch.18.1), and it was also attacked by later Israelite kings, such as Uzziah (2Ch.26.6) and Hezekiah (2Ki.18.8). The term "Gittite" is used to refer to people from Gath, such as Obed-Edom, in whose house the Ark of the Covenant was temporarily kept (2Sa.6.10-11). Gath is also mentioned in prophetic texts, such as Amo.6.2 and Micah 1:10, which speak of the city's destruction and the fate of its inhabitants. The exact location of Gath is uncertain, but it is believed to be Tell es-Safi, an archaeological site in modern-day Israel.

Where does Gath appear in the Bible?

Gath is referenced in 24 verses across 9 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 1 Chronicles 18:1
• 1 Chronicles 20:6
• 1 Chronicles 20:8
• 1 Kings 2:39
• 1 Kings 2:40
• 1 Samuel 5:8
• 1 Samuel 7:14
• 1 Samuel 17:4
• 1 Samuel 17:23
• 1 Samuel 17:52
• 1 Samuel 21:12
• 1 Samuel 27:3
• 1 Samuel 27:4
• 1 Samuel 27:11
• 2 Chronicles 11:8
• 2 Chronicles 26:6
• 2 Kings 12:17
• 2 Samuel 1:20
• 2 Samuel 15:18
• 2 Samuel 21:20
• 2 Samuel 21:22
• Amos 6:2
• Joshua 11:22
• Micah 1:10

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Gath.