Gath

One of the five major Philistine cities, home of the giant Goliath.

Location Details

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categoryCategory

City

flagModern Location

Tell es-Safi, Israel

historyBiblical Period

ConquestJudgesUnited Monarchy

groupsKey Characters

Goliath David Achish Obed-Edom

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lightbulbBiblical Significance

The birthplace of David's greatest enemy and later his unlikely refuge from Saul.

City of Giants

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⁴And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

1 Samuel 17:4arrow_forward

Gath—meaning "winepress"—was the most inland of the five Philistine city-states, situated in the Shephelah foothills on the border between Philistia and Judah. After Joshua drove the Anakim (a race of giants) from most of Canaan, remnants settled in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Joshua 11:22). This explains why Gath produced an unusual number of giant warriors, including its most famous son: "A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." When David killed Goliath, he struck at the heart of Gath's terrifying reputation.

The Ark's Devastating Visit

menu_bookBIBLICAL REFERENCE

⁸They 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.

1 Samuel 5:8-9arrow_forward

After the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and Dagon fell before it, they sent the Ark from Ashdod to Gath. The result was catastrophic: "The Lord's hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors." The men of Gath frantically passed the Ark to Ekron, and eventually the Philistines returned it to Israel with guilt offerings. The city of giants trembled before the God of Israel.

David's Unlikely Refuge

menu_bookBIBLICAL REFERENCE

¹And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

1 Samuel 27:1-4arrow_forward

Twice David fled to Gath to escape Saul's murderous pursuit. The first time, he pretended madness when King Achish recognized him—scraping marks on doors and drooling into his beard (1 Samuel 21:13). Later, he returned with six hundred men, and Achish gave him the town of Ziklag as a base. For sixteen months, David lived in Philistine territory, raiding their enemies while maintaining Achish's trust. The city that produced Goliath became the exile home of his slayer. God's irony runs deep.

Tell It Not in Gath

menu_bookBIBLICAL REFERENCE

²⁰Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

2 Samuel 1:20arrow_forward

When David learned that Saul and Jonathan had died in battle, he composed a lament with the memorable refrain: "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice." Despite Saul's hostility, David honored the anointed king and grieved genuinely. The phrase has become proverbial—a warning not to broadcast news that would bring joy to enemies. Gath stands as a symbol of those who would celebrate Israel's defeats, a reminder that even in grief, discretion has its place.