Gittites

Git´tites, inhabitants or natives of Gath (Jos 13:3). Obed-edom, although a Levite, is called a Gittite (2Sa 6:10), possibly because he had been with David when at Gath, but much more probably from his being a native of Gath-rimmon, which was a city of the Levites. There seems no reason for extending this interpretation to Ittai (2Sa 15:19), seeing that David expressly calls him ’a stranger’ (foreigner), and, what is more, ’an exile.’ He was at the head of 600 men, who were also Gittites, for they are called (2Sa 15:22) his ’brethren.’ They appear to have formed a foreign troop of experienced warriors, chiefly from Gath, in the pay and service of David; which they had perhaps entered in the first instance for the sake of sharing in the booty obtainable in his wars. We can conceive that the presence of such a troop must have been useful to the king in giving to the Hebrew army that organization and discipline which it did not possess before his time.

See GATH.\par

(See GATH) The 600 who followed David from Gath under "Ittai the Gittites," "a stranger and an exile" (2Sa 15:18-20). Obed Edom, being a Levite, must have derived his title "the Gittite" from some incidental connection with Gath; others derive his name from the Levitical city of Gath-rimmon (2Sa 6:10); but it seems strange if "Gittite" be used in one sense of Ittai of Gath, and in a different sense of Obed Edom (1Ch 26:4).

[Git’tites]

Designation of the six hundred men as inhabitants of Gath, and of their leader Ittai, who followed David at Absalom’s revolt. 2Sa 15:18-22; 2Sa 18:2. Goliath also was a Gittite. 2Sa 21:19; 1Ch 20:5. Obed-edom, though a Levite, was also called a Gittite, probably because of residing at Gath or Gath-rimmon. 2Sa 6:10-11; 1Ch 13:13.

GITTITES.—See Gath.

git´ı̄ts (גּתּים, גּתּי, gittı̄m, plural of gittı̄): The inhabitants of Gath. They are mentioned along with the inhabitants of the other chief Philistine cities in Jos 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 (2Sa 15:18; 2Sa 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 (2Sa 6:11 f; 1Ch 13:13). The Gittites seem to have been remarkable for their great stature (2Sa 21:19; 1Ch 20:5).