The Gittites in the Bible were people who came from the Philistine city of Gath. The term "Gittite" simply means "belonging to Gath."
Here's what we know about them from the biblical text:
* Origin: Gath was one of the five major cities of the Philistine pentapolis.
* Loyalty/Allegiance: They were generally considered Philistines, meaning they were often enemies of Israel.
* Notable Exceptions: Despite being generally associated with Israel's enemies, there are instances where Gittites served David, suggesting a more complex relationship. The most famous example is Ittai the Gittite.
* Ittai the Gittite: He was a loyal follower of David during Absalom's rebellion. He famously declared his unwavering allegiance to David, saying, "As surely as the Lord lives, and as surely as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there" (2 Samuel 15:21). David's acceptance of Ittai's loyalty highlights a deviation from the typical animosity between Israelites and Philistines.
* Obed-Edom the Gittite: He housed the Ark of the Covenant for three months after David initially failed to bring it to Jerusalem. During this time, Obed-Edom's household was blessed, leading David to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem.
In summary, the Gittites were people from Gath, usually associated with the Philistines. However, figures like Ittai and Obed-Edom demonstrate that individuals from Gath could also be loyal to David and even be blessed by God, showing a more nuanced interaction between Israelites and Gittites than simple animosity.