- Gath:
- Jerome says there was a large town called Gath, in the way from Eleutheropolis to Gaza; and Eusebius speaks of another Gath, five miles from Eleutheropolis, towards Lydda (and consequently different from that mentioned by Jerome); and also of another Gath, between Jamnia and Antipatris. It appears to have been the extreme boundary of the Philistine territory in one direction, as Ekron was on the other ("And the citiesª which¹ the Philistinesª had takenª° from¹¹ Israelª were restoredª° to Israel,ª from Ekronª¹ even unto¹ Gath;ª and the coastsª thereof did Israelª deliverª° out of the handsª¹ of the Philistines.ª And there was¹ peaceª between¹ Israelª and the Amorites.ª" {1Sm 7:14} + "And the men²¹ of Israelª and of Judahª arose,ª° and shouted,ª° and pursuedª°¹ the Philistines,ª until¹ thou comeª° to the valley,ª and to¹ the gatesª of Ekron.ª And the woundedª of the Philistinesª fell downª° by the wayª to Shaaraim,ª even unto¹ Gath,ª and unto¹ Ekron.ª" {1Sm 17:52}), and lay near Mareshah ("And Gath,ª and Mareshah,ª and Ziph,ª" {2Ch 11:8} + "Therefore¹ shalt thou giveª° presentsª to¹ Moreshethgath:ª the housesª of Achzibª [shall be] a lieª to the kingsª of Israel.ª" {Mic 1:14}), which agrees pretty well with the position assigned it by Jerome. But Reland and Dr. Wells agree with Eusebius; and the authors of the Universal History (b. i. c. 7) place it about six miles form Jamnia, fourteen south of Joppa, and thirty-two west of Jerusalem.
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