a city of the Philistines, first assigned to the tribe of Judah, and afterward to that of Simeon, Joshua 15:31; Joshua 19:5; but it does not appear that the Philistines were ever driven out; as, when David fled into their country from Saul, Achish gave the city to him, 1 Samuel 27:5-6 . It was afterward burned by the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 30:1 . But it appears to have been rebuilt, as the author of the First Book of Samuel, when relating its being given to David, adds, that it pertained to the kings of Judah in his time.