The term "Gittites" refers to the inhabitants of the Philistine city of Gath, one of the five principal cities of the Philistines. Gath is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as a significant Philistine city, and its residents, the Gittites, play various roles in the biblical narrative.

Biblical References:

1. David and the Gittites:
One of the most notable mentions of the Gittites is in the context of King David's reign. During David's flight from Absalom, Ittai the Gittite emerges as a loyal supporter. Despite being a foreigner, Ittai pledges his allegiance to David, demonstrating the king's ability to inspire loyalty beyond the borders of Israel. In 2 Samuel 15:19-21 , David says to Ittai, "Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. You arrived only yesterday, and today shall I make you wander with us, while I go wherever I please? Go back, and take your brothers with you. May kindness and faithfulness be with you." But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether in death or life, there will your servant be."

2. Military Role:
The Gittites also served in David's military forces. Ittai the Gittite was appointed as one of the commanders of David's army during the battle against Absalom (2 Samuel 18:2). This inclusion of Gittites in David's forces highlights the integration and acceptance of foreigners who were loyal to the king and the God of Israel.

3. Obed-edom the Gittite:
Another significant Gittite is Obed-edom, who is mentioned in the context of the Ark of the Covenant. After Uzzah's death for touching the Ark, David left the Ark in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months. During this time, the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his household (2 Samuel 6:10-11): "So David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household."

Cultural and Historical Context:

The Gittites, as residents of Gath, were part of the Philistine confederation, known for their conflicts with the Israelites. Gath was a significant city, often associated with giants, including Goliath, whom David famously defeated. The presence of Gittites in David's narrative illustrates the complex relationships between the Israelites and their neighbors, marked by both conflict and cooperation.

Theological Significance:

The inclusion of Gittites in the biblical narrative underscores themes of loyalty, faithfulness, and the universality of God's blessing. Ittai's loyalty to David and Obed-edom's blessing for housing the Ark reflect the biblical principle that God's favor and covenantal blessings are not limited by ethnicity or nationality but are extended to those who align themselves with His purposes and His chosen leaders.Gittites

men of Gath, ie., of a wine-press

Gittites

(belonging to Gath), the 600 men who followed David from Gath, under Ittai the Gittite, (2 Samuel 15:18,19) and who probably acted as a kind of body-guard. Obed-edom "the Gittite" may have been so named from the town of Gittaim in Benjamin, (2 Samuel 4:3; Nehemiah 11:33) or from Gath-rimmon.

Gittites

See GATH.

GITTITES

git'-its (gittim, plural of gittiy): The inhabitants of Gath. They are mentioned along with the inhabitants of the other chief Philistine cities in Joshua 13:3. It would seem that numbers of them emigrated to Judah, for we find 600 of them acting as a bodyguard to David with Ittai at their head (2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 18:2). Obed-edom, to whom David entrusted the ark when he was frustrated in bringing it into the city of David, was a Gittite (2 Samuel 6:11 1 Chronicles 13:13). The Gittites seem to have been remarkable for their great stature (2 Samuel 21:19 1 Chronicles 20:5).

1663. Gitti -- an inhabitant of Gath
... Definition: Gittite. Word Origin from Gath Definition an inhab. of Gath
NASB Word Usage Gittite (9), Gittites (1). Gittite. Patrial ...
/hebrew/1663.htm - 6k

A Loyal Vow
... generally receive the most of them. But these rude Philistines and Gittites,
Goliath's fellow-townsmen, may preach to us Christians a lesson. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a loyal vow.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... Then skirting the country of the Horites and Gittites, Mareshah, Edom, and Lachish,
and traversing the lonely wastes of the desert where the tracks of the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Gittites (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GITTITES. ... The Gittites seem to have been remarkable
for their great stature (2 Samuel 21:19 1 Chronicles 20:5). ...
/g/gittites.htm - 8k

Gittite (10 Occurrences)
... 10). Six hundred Gittites came with David from Gath into Israel (15:18,
19). Multi-Version Concordance Gittite (10 Occurrences). ...
/g/gittite.htm - 10k

Pelethites (7 Occurrences)
... They are mentioned along with the Gittites (2 Samuel 15:18), another body of foreign
troops whom David gathered round him. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/p/pelethites.htm - 10k

Philistines (224 Occurrences)
... letter kaph (k) is never represented by "sh" in Egyptian David's band of Hebrew
exiles, 400 in number, followed him to Gath where 200 Gittites joined him (2 ...
/p/philistines.htm - 75k

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 15:18 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and
all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him ...
/k/kerethites.htm - 9k

Gazite (1 Occurrence)
... of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines;
the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the ...
/g/gazite.htm - 6k

Gittite's (1 Occurrence)

/g/gittite's.htm - 6k

Gazathites (2 Occurrences)
... Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines;
the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the ...
/g/gazathites.htm - 7k

Gazites (2 Occurrences)
... of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines;
the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the ...
/g/gazites.htm - 7k

Gazathite (1 Occurrence)
... Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines;
the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the ...
/g/gazathite.htm - 6k

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