v. 10; vi. 17; 2 Kings i. 2; Jer. xxv. 20; Amos i. 8; Zeph. ii. 4; Zech. ix. 5, 7)
Gaza. (Gen. x. 19.) A city, and one of the five principalities of the Philistines. It was situated on the coast of the Mediterranean, at the southern extremity of Canaan, within the tribe of Judah, (Judg. i. 18; 1 Sam. vi. 17,) and about GO miles south-west of Jerusalem. In the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz it recovered its independence, but was again subdued by Hezekiah.—(2 Kings xviii. 8.) It was afterwards subject to the Persians and Chaldeans, and was captured by Alexander the Great, about 300 B.C. In the time of Eusebius it was a flourishing city, but has been often reduced since that day, and now consists of three small villages, with from 3,000 to 5,000 inhabitants. Messrs. King and Fisk, American missionaries, spent a Sabbath there in 1823. They tell us that the city stands on an elevation; the houses are built of stone. The scenery around is beautiful.
They found several Greeks there, and a Greek priest, who said the church there had been built twelve centuries.
Gerar, (Gen. x. 18,) a capital city of the Philistines, was situated south-west of Gaza, between Kadesh and Shur.—(Gen. xx. 1.) It is remarkable that both Abraham and Isaac retired to this place during the prevalence of a famine, and were both guilty of deceiving Abimelech, the king of the place, respecting their wives.—(Gen. xx. 1; xxvi. 1.) The Valley of Gerar, (Gen. xxvi. 17,) was the residence of Isaac, and probably in the vicinity of the city above described.
Gath. (Josh. xi. 22.) An acient city in the territory of Dan, celebrated as the birth-place of Goliath.—(1 Sam. xvii. 4.) It was situated about 32 miles west from Jerusalem. In the days of David, it was in the possession of the Philistines, and Achish was its king. (1 Sam. xxi. 10—15; xxvii. 1—7.) David afterwards captured it.—(2 Sam. xv. 18; 1 Chr. xviii. 1.) It was afterwards subject to frequent revolutions.—(1 Kings ii. 39; 2 Kings xii. 17; xiii. 25; 2 Chron. xi. 8; xxvi. 6.) The inhabitants of Gath are called Gittites, (Josh. xiii. 3,) and the place Gittah-hepher.—(Josh. xix. 13.)
Jabneel, (Josh. xv. 11,) or Jabnch, (2 Chron. xxvi.
