Gath, Tel Zafit, Gath of the Philistines, Israel
Gath, Gat, or Geth (Hebrew: גַּת, wine press; Latin: Geth), often referred to as Gath of the Philistines, was one of the five Philistine city-states, established in northwestern Philistia. Gath is often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and its existence is confirmed by Egyptian inscriptions. Gath is mentioned in the El-Amarna letters as Gimti/Gintu, ruled by a king Shuwardata, and possibly by Abdi-Ashtart as well.[citation needed] The site most favored as the location of Gath (variant "Geth," vide infra) is the archaeological mound or tell known as Tell es-Safi in Arabic and Tel Zafit in Hebrew (sometimes written Tel Tzafit), located inside Tel Zafit National Park,[1] although a stone inscription disclosing the name of the city has yet to be discovered. Recent excavations at the site have produced dramatic evidence of a siege and subsequent destruction of the site in the late 9th century BC, which can be related to the biblical verse mentioning its capture by Hazael of Aram Damascus.
Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: Gath, Israel
Photo credit: © Tel Tsafit / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: gath, israel, philistines, tel, zafit
