or GEETH, in Ancient Geography, a celebrated city of the Philistines, and one of their five principalities. It is famous for having given birth to Goliath. David made a conquest of it in the beginning of his reign over all Israel; and it continued subject to the kings his successors till the declension and decay of the kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam rebuilt or fortified it; King Uzziah retook it, and Hezekiah once more reduced it under his subjection.

Gath stood about five or six miles from Jannia, about 14 south of Joppa, and 32 west of Jerusalem. Hence some authors (among whom is F. Calmet) have committed an egregious mistake in making Gath the most southern, and Ekron the most northern, of the Philistine cities; as if these two had been the two boundaries of their dominions, whereas these two cities are not above five miles asunder; and Gaza is the last of the five satrapies south. And Josephus (in the place already quoted) expresses himself plainly enough, when he says, that Hezekiah took all the Philistine cities cities from Gaza to Gath; there being many more cities of that name, which signifies in the Hebrew a wine press. Several more of the name of Geth or Gath are mentioned in Eusebius and St Jerome, whose situation, according to them, plainly shows them to have been different places from this, and from each other; besides those which had an adjunct to distinguish them.

This city recovered its liberty and lustre in the time of the prophets Amos and Micah; but was afterwards demolished by Hazael king of Syria, after which it became of but little consideration till the time of the holy war, when Fulk king of Jerusalem built a castle on its ruins.

Gath Opher, Gath Epher, or Gath, in the canton of Opher, in Galilee, was the birth-place of the prophet Jonah. Joshua makes this city to be part of the tribe of Zebulun; and St Jerome, in his preface upon Jonah, says, that it was two miles from Sephoris, otherwise called Diocaesarea.

Gath Rimmon, a city belonging to the tribe of Dan. St Jerome places it ten miles from Diopolis on the way from Eleutheropolis. It was given to the Levites of Kohath's family.

Gath Rimmon, was also a city in the half tribe of Manasseh, on this side Jordan, and was also given for a place of abode to the Levites of Kohath's family.

Gath Rimmon, was likewise a city in the tribe of Ephraim, given to the Kohathites.