Gath
The land of Goliath, simply mentioned in the work.
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:"Can you see that solitary mountain in the middle of the plain, which once belonged to the Philistines? Gath is there, Goliath’s fatherland and the place where David took refuge with Achish to escape from the mad rage of Saul, and where the wise king pretended he was mad because the world defends fools from wise people."[1]This is the only allusion to this village in the work.
Its name
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?
GRM 215.
Learn more about this place
Gath, mentioned several times in the Bible,[2] 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).[3] The primitive race of giants is attested in Genesis 6:4. Their race was exterminated[4] first by the conquest of the Promised Land[5] then by Joshua who left only a few survivors[6] 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 based on the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel by Jean-François Lavère.
- ↑ GRM 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 the work of 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).
- ↑ Deuteronomy 3:10-11.
- ↑ Joshua 11:21-22.