es-Safi (Place)

Trîg es Safia and Biblical Tell es-Safi (Arabic: تل الصافي, romanized: Tall aṣ-Ṣāfī, "White hill"; Hebrew: תל צפית, Tel Tzafit) 

"Safi" in the Old Testament, the name is a variation of "Saph," a Philistine giant who was killed by one of King David's warriors. The location identified as the ancient Philistine city of Gath is today called Tell es-Safi.  

Saph, the Philistine giant

A descendant of giants. Saph is described as a descendant of the giant race known as the Rephaim. In some translations, the Bible simply refers to him as "one of the sons of the giant".

Killed by Sibbecai. Saph was killed during a battle at Gob by Sibbecai the Hushathite, one of David's mighty men. This event is recorded in 2 Samuel 21:18.
Identified as Sippai. The same figure is called Sippai in the parallel account found in 1 Chronicles 20:4. 

Tell es-Safi and the city of Gath

Tell es-Safi is the modern Arabic name for the archaeological site identified with the biblical Philistine city of Gath, the home of the giant Goliath. 

Location. The site is located in the foothills of Judea, halfway between ancient Jerusalem and Ashkelon.

The biblical narrative links Gath with the story of Goliath, the giant slain by David. David himself fled to Gath to escape King Saul.  

 

Links: Trîg es Safia on Mapcarta.com: https://mapcarta.com/N7740645579 

 

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