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Gammadim - ( Ezek. 27:11) brave warriors; R.V. marg., "valorous men;" others interpret this word as meaning "short-swordsmen," or "daring ones", the name of a class of men who were defenders of the towers of Tyre.

Gamul - weaned the leader of one of the priestly courses (1 Chr. 24:17).

Gap - a rent or opening in a wall ( Ezek. 13:5; comp. Amos 4:3). The false prophets did not stand in the gap (Ezek. 22: 30), i.e., they did nothing to stop the outbreak of wickedness.

Gardens - mentioned in Scripture, of Eden ( Gen. 2:8,Gen. 2:9); Ahab's garden of herbs (1 Kings 21:2); the royal garden (2 Kings 21:18); the royal garden at Susa ( Esther 1:5); the garden of Joseph of Arimathea ( John 19:41); of Gethsemane ( John 18:1).

The "king's garden" mentioned 2 Kings 25:4, Neh. 3:15, was near the Pool of Siloam.

Gardens were surrounded by hedges of thorns ( Isa. 5:5) or by walls of stone ( Prov. 24:31). "Watch-towers" or "lodges" were also built in them ( Isa. 1:8; Mark 12:1), in which their keepers sat. On account of their retirement they were frequently used as places for secret prayer and communion with God ( Gen. 24:63; Matt. 26:30-36; John 1:48; John 18:1, John 1:2). The dead were sometimes buried in gardens ( Gen. 23:19,Gen. 23:20; 2 Kings 21:18,2 Kings 21:26; 1 Sam. 25:1; Mark 15:46; John 19:41). (See PARADISE.)

Gareb - scabby; itch. (1.) One of David's warriors (2 Sam. 23:38), an Ithrite.

(2.) A hill near Jerusalem ( Jer. 31:39), probably the hill of lepers, and consequently a place outside the boundary of the city.

Garlands - ( Acts 14:13). In heathen sacrifices the victims were adorned with fillets and garlands made of wool, with leaves and flowers interwoven. The altar and the priests and attendants were also in like manner adorned.

Garlic - (Heb. shum, from its strong odour), mentioned only once ( Num. 11:5). The garlic common in Eastern countries is the Allium sativum or Allium Ascalonicum, so called from its having been brought into Europe from Ascalon by the Crusaders. It is now known by the name of "shallot" or "eschalot."

Garner - (1.) Heb. 'otsar, a treasure; a store of goods laid up, and hence also the place where they are deposited ( Joel 1:17; 2 Chr. 32:27, rendered "treasury").

(2.) Heb. mezev, a cell, storeroom ( Ps. 144:13); Gr. apotheke, a place for storing anything, a granary ( Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17).

Garnish - overlay with stones (2 Chr. 3:6), adorn ( Rev. 21:19), deck with garlands ( Matt. 23:29), furnish ( Matt 12:44).

In Job 26:13 (Heb. shiphrah, meaning "brightness"), "By his spirit the heavens are brightness" i.e., are bright, splendid, beautiful.

Garrison - (1.) Heb. matstsab, a station; a place where one stands (1 Sam. 14:12); a military or fortified post (1 Sam. 13:23;1 Sam 14:1,1 Sam. 13:4,1 Sam. 13:6, etc.).

(2.) Heb. netsib, a prefect, superintendent; hence a military post (1 Sam. 10:5;1 Sam 13:3,1 Sam. 10:4; 2 Sam. 8:6). This word has also been explained to denote a pillar set up to mark the Philistine conquest, or an officer appointed to collect taxes; but the idea of a military post seems to be the correct one.

(3.) Heb. matstsebah, properly a monumental column; improperly rendered pl. "garrisons" in Ezek. 26:11; correctly in Revised Version "pillars," marg. "obelisks," probably an idolatrous image.

Gate - (1.) Of cities, as of Jerusalem ( Jer. 37:13; Neh. 1:3; Neh 2:3; Neh 3:3), of Sodom ( Gen. 19:1), of Gaza ( Judg. 16:3).

(2.) Of royal palaces ( Neh. 2:8).

(3.) Of the temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6:34,1 Kings 6:35; 2 Kings 18:16); of the holy place (1 Kings 6:31,1 Kings 6:32; Ezek. 41:23, Ezek. 41:24); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate ( Acts 3:2).

(4.) Tombs ( Matt. 27:60).

(5.) Prisons ( Acts 12:10;Acts 16:27).

(6.) Caverns (1 Kings 19:13).

(7.) Camps ( Ex. 32:26,Ex. 32:27; Heb. 13:12).

The materials of which gates were made were,

(1.) Iron and brass ( Ps. 107:16; Isa. 45:2; Acts 12:10).

(2.) Stones and pearls ( Isa. 54:12; Rev. 21:21).

(3.) Wood ( Judg. 16:3) probably.

At the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence "judges of the gate" are spoken of ( Deut. 16:18;Deut 17:8;Deut 21:19;Deut 25:6,Deut. 16:7, etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages ( Prov. 1:21;Prov 8:3; Isa. 29:21; Jer. 17:19, Jer. 17:20; Jer 26:10). Criminals were punished without the gates (1 Kings 21:13; Acts 7:59). By the "gates of righteousness" we are probably to understand those of the temple ( Ps. 118:19). "The gates of hell" (R.V., "gates of Hades") Matt. 16:18, are generally interpreted as meaning the power of Satan, but probably they may mean the power of death, denoting that the Church of Christ shall never die.

Gath - a wine-vat, one of the five royal cities of the Philistines ( Josh. 13:3) on which the ark brought calamity (1 Sam. 5:8,1 Sam. 5:9;1 Sam 6:17). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4). David fled from Saul to Achish, king of Gath (1 Sam. 21:10;1 Sam 27:2-4; Ps. 56), and his connection with it will account for the words in 2 Sam. 1:20. It was afterwards conquered by David (2 Sam. 8:1). It occupied a strong position on the borders of Judah and Philistia (1 Sam. 21:10; 1 Chr. 18:1). Its site has been identified with the hill called Tell esSafieh, the Alba Specula of the Middle Ages, which rises 695 feet above the plain on its east edge. It is noticed on monuments about B.C. 1500. (See METHEGAMMAH.)

Gath-hepher - wine-press of the well, a town of Lower Galilee, about 5 miles from Nazareth; the birthplace of Jonah (2 Kings 14:25); the same as Gittah-hepher ( Josh. 19:13). It has been identified with the modern el-Meshed, a village on the top of a rocky hill. Here the supposed tomb of Jonah, Neby Yunas, is still pointed out.

Gath-rimmon - press of the pomegranate. (1.) A Levitical city in the tribe of Dan ( Josh. 19:45;Josh 21:24; 1 Chr. 6:69).

(2.) Another city of the same name in Manasseh, west of the Jordan ( Josh. 21:25), called also Bileam (1 Chr. 6:70).

Gaulanitis - a name derived from "Golan" (q.v.), one of the cities of refuge in the territory of Manasseh ( Josh. 20:8;Josh 21:27; Deut. 4:43). This was one of the provinces ruled by Herod Antipas. It lay to the east of the Lake of Galilee, and included among its towns Bethsaida-Julias ( Mark 8:22) and Seleucia.

Gaza - called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name ( Deut. 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jer. 25:20), strong, a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable for its early importance as the chief centre of a great commercial traffic with Egypt. It is one of the oldest cities of the world ( Gen. 10:19; Josh. 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims ( Deut. 2:23; Josh. 13:2, Josh. 13:3), a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of Judah ( Josh. 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was the southernmost of the five great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a trespass-offering unto the Lord (1 Sam. 6:17). Its gates were carried away by Samson ( Judg. 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and "did grind in the prison house." Here he also pulled down the temple of Dagon, and slew "all the lords of the Philistines," himself also perishing in the ruin ( Judg. 16:21-30). The prophets denounce the judgments of God against it ( Jer. 25:20;Jer 47:5; Amos 1:6, Amos 1:7; Zeph. 2:4). It is referred to in Acts 8:26. Philip is here told to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles south-west of Jerusalem), "which is desert", i.e., the "desert road," probably by Hebron, through the desert hills of Southern Judea. (See SAMSON.)

It is noticed on monuments as early as B.C. 1600. Its small port is now called el-Mineh.

Geba - the hill, (2 Sam. 5:25 [1 Chr. 14:16, "Gibeon"]; 2 Kings 23:8; Neh. 11:31), a Levitical city of Benjamin (1 Kings 15:22; 1 Sam. 13:16;1 Sam 14:5, wrongly "Gibeah" in the A.V.), on the north border of Judah near Gibeah ( Isa. 10:29; Josh. 18:24, Josh. 18:28). "From Geba to Beersheba" expressed the whole extent of the kingdom of Judah, just as "from Dan to Beersheba" described the whole length of Palestine (2 Kings 23:8). It has been identified with Gaba ( Josh. 18:24; Ezra 2:26; Neh. 7:30), now Jeb'a, about 5 1/2 miles north of Jerusalem.

Gebal - a line (or natural boundary, as a mountain range). (1.) A tract in the land of Edom south of the Dead Sea ( Ps. 83:7); now called Djebal.

(2.) A Phoenician city, not far from the sea coast, to the north of Beyrout ( Ezek. 27:9); called by the Greeks Byblos. Now Jibeil. Mentioned in the Amarna tablets.

An important Phoenician text, referring to the temple of Baalath, on a monument of Yehu-melek, its king (probably B.C. 600), has been discovered.

Gebalites - (1 Kings 5:18 R.V., in A.V. incorrectly rendered, after the Targum, "stone-squarers," but marg. "Giblites"), the inhabitants of Gebal (2).

Geber - a valiant man, (1 Kings 4:19), one of Solomon's purveyors, having jurisdiction over a part of Gilead, comprising all the kingdom of Sihon and part of the kingdom of Og (Deut. 2; 31).

Gebim - cisterns, (rendered "pits," Jer. 14:3; "locusts," Isa. 33:4), a small place north of Jerusalem, whose inhabitants fled at the approach of the Assyrian army ( Isa. 10:31). It is probably the modern el-Isawiyeh.

Gedaliah - made great by Jehovah. (1.) the son of Jeduthum (1 Chr. 25:3,1 Chr. 25:9). (2.) The grandfather of the prophet Zephaniah, and the father of Cushi ( Zeph. 1:1). (3.) One of the Jewish nobles who conspired against Jeremiah ( Jer. 38:1). (4.) The son of Ahikam, and grandson of Shaphan, secretary of king Josiah ( Jer. 26:24). After the destruction of Jerusalem (see ZEDEKIAH ), Nebuchadnezzar left him to govern the country as tributary to him (2 Kings 25:22; Jer. 40:5; Jer 52:16). Ishmael, however, at the head of a party of the royal family, "Jewish irreconcilables", rose against him, and slew him and "all the Jews that were with him" ( Jer. 41:2,Jer. 41:3) at Mizpah about three months after the destruction of Jerusalem. He and his band also plundered the town of Mizpah, and carried off many captives. He was, however, overtaken by Johanan and routed. He fled with such of his followers as escaped to the Ammonites ( Jer 41:15). The little remnant of the Jews now fled to Egypt.

Geder - a walled place, ( Josh. 12:13), perhaps the same as Gederah or Gedor ( Josh 15:58).

Gederah - the fortress; a fortified place, a town in the plain (shephelah) of Judah ( Josh. 15:36). This is a very common Canaanite and Phoenician name. It is the feminine form of Geder ( Josh 12:13); the plural form is Gederoth ( Josh 15:41). This place has by some been identified with Jedireh, a ruin 9 miles from Lydda, toward Eleutheropolis, and 4 miles north of Sur'ah (Zorah), in the valley of Elah.

Gederathite - an epithet applied to Josabad, one of David's warriors at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4), a native of Gederah.