Gath
The land of Goliath, simply mentioned in the work[1].
Description
During a stop on a high hill, Jesus describes to his Apostles the landscape before their eyes. It is an opportunity to recall to them the great pages of Israel's history: « You see that solitary mountain in the middle of the plain that once belonged to the Philistines? There is Gath, homeland of Goliath and a refuge place for David near Achish, to flee Saul’s madness and where the wise king played the fool, because the world defends fools Against the wise »[2]. This is the only allusion to this village in the work.
Its name
Gath, Gath, Tel es-Safieh. The name "Gath" comes from the Hebrew "Gat" (גת), which means "winepress" or "olive press". This suggests that the city may have been known for the production of wine or olive oil.
Where is it mentioned in the work?
EMV 215.
Learn more about this place
Gath, mentioned several times in the Bible[3], was one of the five main cities of the Philistines, famous for the presence of Goliath, a giant nearly 2.9 meters tall (6 cubits and a span)[4]. The primitive race of giants is attested in Genesis 6:4. Their race was exterminated[5] first by the conquest of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 3:10-11) then by Joshua who left only a few survivors (Joshua 11:21-22) from whom Goliath descended.
Considering its destruction around the middle of the 8th century BCE, the site’s location was lost over the centuries. Most archaeologists now agree to identify Gath with Tell es-Safi, “the white mound”. The site was identified in 1887, but it was only in 2001 that findings confirmed previous hypotheses. Maria Valtorta’s description is all the more remarkable.
Explore
- 31° 41’ 43’’ N / 34° 51’ 20’’ E /
- +180m.
Notes and references
- ↑ Article partially written from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel, J.-F. LAVÈRE.
- ↑ EMV 215.2.
- ↑ 2 Chronicles 11:8 | 2 Chronicles 26:6 | 2 Kings 12:18 | Amos 6:2 | 2 Samuel 1:20, etc.
- ↑ 1 Samuel 17:4.
- ↑ Jesus, in Maria Valtorta, explains the meaning of Genesis 6:4 and how the Flood wiped out most of them (dictated on December 30, 1946 regarding an archaeological discovery).