🔼The name Gittaim: Summary
- Meaning
- Two Winepresses
- Etymology
- From the noun גת (gat), winepress.
🔼The name Gittaim in the Bible
The village named Gittaim was either situated in the territory of Benjamin, or else it was invaded by Benjaminites and they never left.
When David's general Joab kills Abner in Hebron, Saul's son Ish-bosheth becomes understandably discouraged, because he figures he might be next. His two lieutenants Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon of Beeroth (of Benjamin) also decide to take cover, and they and their whole family run for Gittaim (2 Samuel 4:3).
But at some point they realize that if they knock off Ish-bosheth, the wrath of David (or Joab, really) might be evaded. And so they travel to the house of Ish-bosheth, kill and behead him and take the head to David. Quite contrary to their hopes, David is utterly disgruntled by the sight of Ish-bosheth's severed head, and orders his attendants to chop the treacherous brothers up and hang them out to dry.
Gittaim is mentioned once more, by Nehemiah, who reports that after the exile, Gittaim was resettled by Benjaminites (Nehemiah 11:33).
🔼Etymology of the name Gittaim
The name Gittaim comes from the root יגן, and appears to be a dual form of the noun גת (gat), meaning winepress:
יגן
The verb יגן (yagan) probably meant to beat or press, since the derived noun גת (gat) describes a wine-press.
🔼Gittaim meaning
For a meaning of the name Gittaim, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Two Winepresses. BDB Theological Dictionary doesn't translate this name but does list it under יגן.