David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10; 27:2-4;
Psalm 56), and his connection with it will account for the words in 2
Samuel 1:20. It was afterwards conquered by David (2 Samuel 8:1). It
occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia (1 Samuel
21:10; 1 Chronicles 18:1). Its site has been identified with the hill called
Tell esSafieh, the Alba Specula of the Middle Ages, which rises 695 feet
above the plain on its east edge. It is noticed on monuments about B.C.
- (See METHEGAMMAH.)
- GATH-HEPHER wine-press of the well, a town of Lower Galilee, about
5 miles from Nazareth; the birthplace of Jonah (2 Kings 14:25); the same
as Gittah-hepher (Joshua 19:13). It has been identified with the modern
el-Meshed, a village on the top of a rocky hill. Here the supposed tomb of
Jonah, Neby Yunas, is still pointed out. - GATH-RIMMON press of the pomegranate. (1.) A Levitical city in the
tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:45; 21:24; 1 Chronicles 6:69).
(2.) Another city of the same name in Manasseh, west of the Jordan
(Joshua 21:25), called also Bileam (1 Chronicles 6:70).
- GAULANITIS a name derived from “Golan” (q.v.), one of the cities of
refuge in the territory of Manasseh (Joshua 20:8; 21:27; Deuteronomy
4:43). This was one of the provinces ruled by Herod Antipas. It lay to the
east of the Lake of Galilee, and included among its towns Bethsaida-Julias
(Mark 8:22) and Seleucia. - GAZA called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name (Deuteronomy 2:23;
1 Kings 4:24; Jeremiah 25:20), strong, a city on the Mediterranean shore,
remarkable for its early importance as the chief centre of a great
commercial traffic with Egypt. It is one of the oldest cities of the world
(Genesis 10:19; Joshua 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims,
who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims (Deuteronomy
2:23; Joshua 13:2, 3), a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to
the lot of Judah (Joshua 15:47; Judges 1:18). It was the southernmost of
the five great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a
trespass-offering unto the Lord (1 Samuel 6:17). Its gates were carried
away by Samson (Judges 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and
“did grind in the prison house.” Here he also pulled down the temple of
Dagon, and slew “all the lords of the Philistines,” himself also perishing in
the ruin (Judges 16:21-30). The prophets denounce the judgments of God