Location
Overview
Gath was one of the five great cities of the Philistines, and the home of giants. Its name, "winepress," belied its reputation as a city of warriors.
City of the giants
After the conquest, "there was none of the Anakims left... only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained" (Joshua 11:22). From Gath came the champion Goliath, "whose height was six cubits and a span," whom David felled (1 Samuel 17:4).
The ark in Gath
When the captured ark was sent to Gath, God struck the city with tumours, and the people cried out to send it away (1 Samuel 5:8–9).
David and Gath
David twice fled to Gath and its king Achish, once feigning madness (1 Samuel 21:10–15) and later finding refuge there with his men (1 Samuel 27:2–4). Gath remained a Philistine power until subdued by David (1 Chronicles 18:1).
Events Here
David flees to Gath and feigns madness before Achish
Goliath of Gath challenges Israel and is killed by David
Scripture References
31 versesJoshua1 verse
Joshua 11:22
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.
1 Samuel12 verses
1 Samuel 5:8
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.
1 Samuel 6:17
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;
1 Samuel 7:14
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.
1 Samuel 17:4
And 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 17:23
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.
1 Samuel 17:52
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.
1 Samuel 21:10
And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 21:12
And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:2
And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
1 Samuel 27:3
And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
1 Samuel 27:4
And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
1 Samuel 27:11
And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
2 Samuel4 verses
2 Samuel 1:20
Tell 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 15:18
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
2 Samuel 21:20
And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. the giant: or, Rapha
2 Samuel 21:22
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
1 Kings3 verses
1 Kings 2:39
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
1 Kings 2:40
And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
1 Kings 2:41
And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
2 Kings1 verse
2 Kings 12:17
Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles5 verses
1 Chronicles 7:21
And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
1 Chronicles 8:13
Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
1 Chronicles 18:1
Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
1 Chronicles 20:6
And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. great: Heb. a man of measure the son: Heb. born to the giants, or, Rapha
1 Chronicles 20:8
These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
2 Chronicles2 verses
2 Chronicles 11:8
And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
2 Chronicles 26:6
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. about: or, in the country of Ashdod
Psalms1 verse
Psalms 56:1
To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Michtam: or, A golden Psalm of David
Amos1 verse
Amos 6:2
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
Micah1 verse
Micah 1:10
Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. Aphrah: that is, Dust
Archaeology & History
Gath is identified with Tell es-Safi, a large mound in the Shephelah, where excavations have revealed a major Philistine city, a destruction layer, a siege system, and an inscription with names linguistically close to "Goliath" — strikingly consistent with its biblical fame.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Gath
Where is Gath today?
Today, Gath corresponds to Tell es-Safi, Israel.
What does the name Gath mean?
The name Gath means “Winepress”.
What happened at Gath in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Gath include david flees to gath and feigns madness before achish; goliath of gath challenges israel and is killed by david.
Where is Gath first mentioned in the Bible?
Gath is first mentioned in Joshua 11:22.
How often is Gath mentioned in the Bible?
Gath is mentioned in 31 verses across 10 books: Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Amos, Micah.
Who was the most famous person from Gath?
Goliath, the Philistine giant whom the young David killed with a sling and stone (1 Samuel 17). Gath was known as a city of giants.
Was Gath a Philistine city?
Yes — one of the five chief Philistine cities, along with Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron.