The gate of Gath, believed to be the home of the giant Goliath, has been discovered by archaeologists. I love this kind of story because I love it when the Bible is shown to have historical accuracies.
You might recall:
The Philistines occupied the high ground on one side and the Israelites occupied the high ground on the other side, with the valley between them.
A champion stepped out from the Philistine ranks; his name was Goliath, from Gath; he was six cubits and one span tall.
On his head was a bronze helmet and he wore a breastplate of scale-armour; the breastplate weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.
He had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze scimitar slung across his shoulders.
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. A shield-bearer walked in front of him.
And the gate itself is mentioned in the Bible.
David pondered on these words and became very frightened of Achish king of Gath.
When their eyes were on him, he played the madman and, when they held him, he feigned lunacy. He drummed his feet on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
So now, archaeologists said they have found the “gate of Gath.” It’s kind of a big deal.
Professor Aren Maeir, the leading archaeologist from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, said: ‘It appears we have located a monumental city gate of the lower city of Gath.
He called it “quite an astounding find.”
Oh, and the gates are huge. Just sayin’.
