Gath (city)

Gat or Gath (also Geth ) is a city, which is mentioned several times in the Old Testament. The city is said to have located on the territory of the Philistines in Elahtal between the towns of Gaza and Ashdod. You should have reigned over other towns and villages in the area, such as Achish.

History

The city is already in the Amarna letters (EA 278-280, 14th century BC ) mentions Jerusalem as neighboring Canaanite city-state that their king was then Šuwardata. Juan- Pablo Vita takes on the basis of palaeography studies that a writer from Gezer wrote the letter of Šuwardata. This writer has also worked for the allied rulers of Ginti - kirmil and Ashdod.

According to the book of Joshua in the Old Testament Gat was a part of the Five Cities of the Philistines said to have consisted of the cities of Gath, Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron and Ashkelon, and probably even its center. According to the Book of Samuel, the kings of Gath were called at the time of David and his son Maoch Achish, the vassal was once David (1 Sam 27.2 to 9 EU). Achish led the alliance of the five Philistine cities in the battle against Saul, benefited from David (1 Sam 29 EU).

In the Assyrian annals middle of the 8th century Gat is only mentioned as a small town, which was dominated by Ashdod. The book of Amos mentions the destruction of Gath:

"Go over to Kalne and see! And go from there to Hamath the great, and goes down to Gath of the Philistines! Are they better than these kingdoms, or is their border greater than your border? "

Gat has been BC conquered and destroyed around 830 by King Hazael of Damascus ( 2 Kgs 12.18 EU). Younger parts of the Bible they do not mention.

Ruler

• Šuwardata, Amarna Period

Others

According to biblical tradition, the slain by David in battle giant Goliath came from Gath.

Tel es- Safi

Archaeological investigations have identified the Tel es- Safi in the Shephelah as Gat, which was destroyed at the end of the 9th century. Then fell the probably most important city in the whole area. The archaeological excavations led by Professor Aren Maeir of Bar - Ilan University ( Ramat- Gan, Israel).