Where Is It in the Bible?

Professor Nadav Na’aman has suggested that Khirbet Qeiyafa should be identified with the Biblical site of Gov, which was the location of two battles between the Philistines and the Israelites (2 Samuel 21:18–19), but following Anson Rainey’s suggestion, Garfinkel believes that it is Sha’arayim (1 Samuel 17:52), which means “gates” in Hebrew. As we go to press, Garfinkel has announced the discovery of a second gate to the city, which has survived to a height of nearly 12 feet. This is the only Israelite site of the period with multiple gates; even much larger cities had only one gate.