Gibeah

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

From a root Gabah , "round", Gibbos ; a "hill", less than a "mountain," Har . Applied to the bore rounded hills of central Palestine.

1. A city in the mountain region of Judah, S.E. of Hebron, named with Maon and southern Carmel ( Joshua 15:55;  Joshua 15:57;  1 Chronicles 2:49).

2. Gibeath a town of Benjamin, among the last next Jerusalem ( Joshua 18:28), possibly the "Gibeah of Saul," only that the latter was close to Gibeon and Ramah, five miles N. of Jerusalem, and if Saul's Gibeah were meant we should expect it mentioned with those two towns in  Joshua 18:25. "Gibeah of Saul" occurs  1 Samuel 10:26;  1 Samuel 11:4;  1 Samuel 15:34;  2 Samuel 21:6;  Isaiah 10:29. Now Tuleil el ful, "the hill of the beans" (a conical peak commanding an extensive view, about an hour from Jerusalem, on the road to Er-Ram, with a large heap of stones on the top, the ruins of a town built of unhewn stones), called by Josephus (B. J., 5:2, section 1) Gabath saoule, 30 stadia from Jerusalem, chosen retributively, as being Saul's residence, for the hanging of his seven sons "before the Lord" (i.e. as in the presence of Him the righteous Judge who appointed the retributive justice,  2 Samuel 21:14 ff;  2 Samuel 21:9), by the Gibeonites in revenge for his attempt to slay them in violation of the covenant.

It is the Gibeah of Benjamin destroyed by the other tribes under the Judges (Judges 19; 20) for the flagrant abomination perpetrated there. It was then a "city" with the usual open "street" or square, having its "700 chosen men," probably the same as the "left handed men who could sling stones at an hair breadth and not miss" ( Judges 20:15-16). The Levite left Bethlehem at "the tent pitching time of day" ( Judges 19:9, margin), about three in the afternoon. At five he would "come over against Jehus," and at seven would be four miles N. of Jerusalem on the Shechem (Nablus) road toward mount Ephraim. Ramah and Gibeah were now near; Gibeah nearest. The suddenness of sunset in that region made him "turn aside" hither for the night, where the tragedy of the concubine ensued.

The track N. of Gibeah branches into two, one leading to Bethel the "house of God," the other to "Gibeah ("Geba") in the field" Sadeh , "cultivated ground"), now Jeba, below which at the base of the hill from whence Gibeah is named was the cave (Syriac, the Hebrew "treeless meadows" will mean not their place of ambush but the open ground across which they advanced to the town) of Gibeah "where the liers in wait hid" ( Judges 20:31-33, margin). "Gibeah of Benjamin" was occupied by Jonathan with 1,000 chosen men, three miles in the S. rear of the Philistine camp at Geba on the S. side of the wady Suweinit ( 1 Samuel 13:2). Saul was in their front at Michmash, holding also mount Bethel on the N. side of the wady Suweinit.

Jonathan smote the garrison at Geba, and the Philistines in consequence gathering a vast host drove Saul's little army before them out of Bethel and Michmash down the eastern passes to Gilgal near Jericho, in the Jordan valley; took Michmash, Saul's former quarters, and sent out plunderers N.,W., and E. Jonathan however held a force in Gibeah ( 1 Samuel 14:2) where Saul, Samuel, and Ahiah the priest with the ephod joined him from Gilgal ( 1 Samuel 13:7).

Then followed the gallant stealthy assault of the Philistine garrison by Jonathan and his armor-bearer, the first knowledge of which was conveyed to Saul by his watchmen in Gibeah, who at dawn saw "the multitude melting away and beating down one another." Saul first called the muster roll to discover the absentees; next he consulted the oracle of God; but when the noise in the Philistine host increased, with irreverent impatience ( Isaiah 28:16) he desired the priest to stop the consultation, and put himself at the head of the people who, now that the Philistines fled, flocked to him from all their hiding places in Mount Ephraim.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 15:57 2 Chronicles 13:2 1 Chronicles 2:49

2. A city closely connected with Phinehas, the high priest and grandson of Aaron. Phinehas buried his father Eleazar there ( Joshua 24:33 ). Some try to locate this on a hill near Shechem or Bethel. Others would identify it with the levitical city of Geba in  Joshua 21:17 in the territory of Benjamin. The Bible simply uses the general term “hill country of Ephraim.” It could even be near Shiloh.

3. The ark was lodged on a hill (Hebrew, Gibeah ) during the period between its return by the Philistines and David's initial effort to move it to Jerusalem ( 2 Samuel 6:4 KJV). The Hebrew word is probably not a proper noun (Hebrew writing not distinguishing proper names with capital letters as does English). The best translation may be “hill” (Nas, Niv, Nrsv, Reb; compare   1 Samuel 7:1-2 ). The hill here is apparently near Kiriath-jearim or Baalah. See Baalah; compare  Joshua 15:9-11 .

4. The most significant Gibeah was the city in the tribal territory of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:28 ). A bloody civil war between Benjamin and the other Israelite tribes broke out when the men of Gibeah raped a traveling Levite's concubine ( Judges 19:1-21:25 ). Saul had close family connections to the city ( 1 Chronicles 8:29-33 also connects them with the nearby and similar-sounding Gibeon; see 1Samuel 10:5,  1 Samuel 10:26;  1 Samuel 15:34;  1 Samuel 23:19 ). If the “hill of God” ( 1 Samuel 10:5 Kjv, Nas, Reb ) or “Gibeath-elohim” (NRSV) should be translated “Gibeah of God” (NIV) and equated with Gibeah of Saul, then the Philistines controlled the city prior to Saul gaining control. Apparently the Philistines built a fortress there which Saul took over, or Saul constructed his own royal complex, since archaeologists have uncovered a fortress from this period. After Saul's death, the city declined. Hosea and Isaiah referred to it during the eighth century B.C. (  Isaiah 10:29;  Hosea 5:8;  Hosea 9:9;  Hosea 10:9 ).

Isaiah shows it was on the natural path of march for an enemy army such as the Assyrians attacking Jerusalem from the north. Archaeologists have shown the city flourished once more after the destruction of Jerusalem and again in the Maccabean age.

Gibeah is located at tell el-Ful on a high ridge three and a half miles north of Jerusalem. See Benjamin; Geba; Saul .

LeBron Matthews

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

GIBEAH (Heb. gib’âh , ‘a hill’). The name, similar in form and meaning to Geba , attached to a place not far from that city. The two have sometimes been confused. It is necessary to note carefully where the word means ‘hill’ and where it is the name of a city. At least two places were so called. 1. A city in the mountains of Judah (  Joshua 15:57 , perhaps also   2 Chronicles 13:2 ), near Carmel and Ziph, to the S. E. of Hebron, and therefore not to be identified with the modern Jeba‘ , 9 miles W. of Bethlehem ( Onomast .); site unknown. 2. Gibeah of Benjamin (  Judges 19:12 etc.), the scene of the awful outrage upon the Levite’s concubine, and of the conflict in which the assembled tribes executed such terrible vengeance upon Benjamin. It was the home of Israel’s first king (  1 Samuel 10:26 ), and was known as ‘Gibeah of Saul’ (  1 Samuel 11:4 ,   Isaiah 10:29 ); probably identical with ‘Gibeah of God’ (  1 Samuel 10:5 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). From the narrative regarding the Levite we learn that Gibeah lay near the N. road from Bethlehem, between Jerusalem and Ramah. It was near the point where the road from Geba joined the highway towards Bethel (  Judges 20:31 ).   Judges 20:33 affords no guidance: Maareh-geba (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) is only a transliteration of the words as they stand in MT [Note: Massoretic Text.] . A slight emendation of the text makes it read ‘from the west of Gibeah,’ which is probably correct (Moore, Judges, in loc. ). Josephus, who calls it ‘Gabaothsaul’ ( BJ V. ii. 1), places it 30 stadia N. of Jerusalem. The site most closely agreeing with these conditions is Tuleil el-Fûl , an artificial mound, E. of the road to the N., about 4 miles from Jerusalem. The road to Jeba‘ leads off the main road immediately to the north of the site. Certain remains of ancient buildings there are, but nothing of importance has yet been discovered. As a place of strategic importance, Gibeah formed the base of Saul’s operations against the Philistines (  1 Samuel 13:1-23;   1 Samuel 14:1-52 ). There was enacted the tragedy in which seven of Saul’s sons perished, giving occasion for the pathetic vigil of Rizpah. It appears in the description of Sennacherib’s advance from the north (  Isaiah 10:28-32 ).

W. Ewing.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A hill,

1. A city of Benjamin,  1 Samuel 13:15 , and the birthplace and residence of Saul king of Israel; whence it is frequently called "Gibeah of Saul,"  1 Samuel 11:4;  15:34;  23:19;  26:1;  2 Samuel 21:6;  Isaiah 10:29 . Gibeah was also famous for its sins; particularly for its sins; particularly for that committed by forcing the young Levite's wife, who went to lodge there; and for the war which succeeded it, to the almost entire extermination of the tribe of Benjamin,  Judges 19:1 -  30 . Scripture remarks, that this occurred at a time when there was no king in Israel, and when every one did what was right in his own eyes. Dr. Robinson found traces of Gebeah in the small and ruinous village of Jeba, near Ramah, separated from Michmash on the north by a deep valley, and about six miles north by east from Jerusalem.

2. A town of Judah,  Joshua 15:57 , which lay about ten miles southwest of Jerusalem. The prophet Habakkuk is said to have been buried here.

3. In mount Ephraim, called Gibeah of Phinehas, where Eleazar the son of Aaron was buried,  Joshua 24:33 . It is found in the narrow valley El-Jib, midway between Jerusalem and Shechem.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Gibeah ( Gĭb'E-Ah ), A Hill. The name of several towns. 1. Gibeah in the hill-country of Judah.  Joshua 15:57; now probably Jebah, ten miles north of Hebron. 2. Gibeah of Benjamin,  1 Samuel 13:2; first mentioned in  Judges 19:1-30; a shameful crime by some of its people nearly destroyed the tribe of Benjamin.  Judges 20:1-48;  Judges 21:1-25. 3. Gibeah of Saul, probably the same as Gibeah of Benjamin. For notices of Gibeah of Saul, see  1 Samuel 10:26;  1 Samuel 11:4;  1 Samuel 15:34;  1 Samuel 22:6;  1 Samuel 23:19;  Isaiah 10:29, etc. 4 Gibeah in Kirjath-jearim was no doubt a hill in that city,  2 Samuel 6:3-4, on which the house of Abinadab stood, where the ark was left. 5. Gibeah in the field,  Judges 20:31; probably the same as Geba. 6. Gibeah-ha-araloth,  Joshua 5:3, margin. See Gilgal.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

The town of Gibeah was located in the tribal area of Benjamin ( Joshua 18:21;  Joshua 18:28; for map see Benjamin ). It earned itself a bad reputation during the time of the judges when the men of Gibeah committed a serious crime and the leaders of Benjamin, instead of punishing them, defended them. The other tribes responded with an attack that almost wiped out Benjamin (Judges 19; Judges 20;  Judges 21:1-24;  Hosea 9:9;  Hosea 10:9).

Gibeah was also the home town of Saul, Israel’s first king. In spite of Benjamin’s being the smallest tribe in Israel ( 1 Samuel 9:21), Gibeah became the administrative centre of Saul’s kingdom ( 1 Samuel 10:26;  1 Samuel 11:4;  1 Samuel 14:16;  1 Samuel 15:34;  1 Samuel 22:6;  1 Samuel 23:19;  1 Samuel 26:1).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 13:15 Isaiah 10:29 Judges 19 20 1 Samuel 10:26 11:4 15:34 2 Samuel 21:6-10 1 Samuel 10:5

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. City in the highlands of Judah.  Joshua 15:57 . Identified with Jeba, 32 10' N, 35 17' E .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Gibah', גִּבַ ה , a hill, as the word is sometimes rendered; likewise the Sept., which usually has Γαβαά , but in Joshua 18 Γαβαάθ ; Josephus Γαβαθή , Ant. 6:4, 6), the name of three cities, all doubtless situated on hills. The term is derived, according to Geseneius ( Thes. pages 259, 260), from a root, גָּכִ , nignifying to be round or humped (compare the Latin gibbus, Eng. gibbous; the Arabic jebel, a mountain, and the German gipfel). It is employed in the Heb. Bible to denote a "hill," that is, an eminence of less considerable height and extent than a "mountain," the term for which is הִר , Har. For the distinction between the two terms, see  Psalms 148:9;  Proverbs 8:25;  Isaiah 2:2;  Isaiah 40:4, etc. In the historical books Gibeah is commonly applied to the hald, rounded hells of Central Palestine, especially in the neighborhood of Jerusalem (Stanley, Palest. App. § 25). There is no lack of the corresponsding name among the villages of Central Palestine. Several of these are merely mentioned as appellatives:

(1.) The "bill of the foreskins" ( Joshua 5:3), between the Jordan and Jericho; it derives its name from the circumcision which took place there, and the vicinity seems afterwards to heave received the name of GILGAL (See Gilgal) (q.v.).

(2.) "The hill" of Kiajath-jearim, a place in which the ark remained from the time of its return by the Philistines till its removal by David ( 2 Samuel 6:3-4; comp.  1 Samuel 7:1-2). (See Kirjath-Jearim).

(3.) The hill of Moreh ( Judges 7:1). (See Moreh)

(4.) The hill of God — Gibeah ha-Elohim ( 1 Samuel 10:5); one of the places in the route of Saul, which is so difficult to trace. In  1 Samuel 10:10;  1 Samuel 10:13 it is apparently called "the bill," and "the high place." (See Elohim).

(5.) The hill of Hachilah ( 1 Samuel 23:19;  1 Samuel 26:1). (See Hacihilah).

(6.) The hill of Ammah ( 2 Samuel 2:24). (See Amamah).

(7.) The hill of Gareb ( Jeremiah 31:39). (See Gareb). — Smith, s.v.

1. Gibeah, Of Benjamin is historically the most important of the places bearing this name. It is called "Gibeah of Beenjanmin" ( 1 Samuel 13:15;  2 Samuel 23:29) and "Gibeah of Saul" ( 1 Samuel 11:4;  Isaiah 10:19; Λόφος Σαούλου , Josephus, War , 5:2, 1); also "Gibeah of God," rendered hill of God ( 1 Samuel 10:5); and GIBEATH ( Joshua 18:28, where it is enumerated among the last group of the towns of Benjamin, next to Jerusalem). This last name ( גִּבַ ת , which frequently appears elsewhere in the original), being the form of GIBEAH in the Construct State, has been joined by some to the following name, i.e., "Gibeah of Kirjath-jearim" (Schwarz, Phys. Descrip. Of Palestine, page 132); but these two cities are evidently counted separately in the text. Others regard "Gibeah" here as a mere appellative denoting some hill near Kirjath-jearim (compare  1 Samuel 7:1-2). This city is often mentioned in Scripture ( Hosea 5:8;  Hosea 9:9;  Hosea 10:9;  1 Samuel 10:26). It was the scene of the atrocious crime which involved in its consequences almost the entire extirpation of the tribe of Benjamin ( Judges 19:12-30;  Judges 20:14). It soon recovered from that eventful siege and sack. It was the birth-place of Saul, and continued to be his residence after he became king ( 1 Samuel 10:26;  1 Samuel 11:4;  1 Samuel 15:33;  1 Samuel 23:19;  1 Samuel 26:1); and it was doubtless on account of this its intimate connection with Saul that the Gibeonites hanged up here his seven descendants ( 2 Samuel 21:6). An erroneous translation of the name has led to the misapprehension that this was the scene of Jonathan's romantic exploits against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14). (See Geba).

Like Bethel, it seems to have been reckoned among the ancient sanctuaries of Palestine ( 1 Samuel 10:5-6;  1 Samuel 15:34;  1 Samuel 23:19;  1 Samuel 26:1;  2 Samuel 21:6-10). The inhabitants were called Gibeathites ( 1 Chronicles 12:3). Josephus locates it twenty (Ant. 5:2, 8) or thirty (War, 5:2, 1, Γαβαθσαούλη ) stadia north of Jerusalem. Jerome speaks of Gibeah as, in his time, level with the ground (Ep. 86, Ad Eustoch.), and since then it does not appear to have been visited by travelers till recently. Dr. Robinson at first identified it with Jeba, a half-ruined place about five miles north by east of Jerusalem (Researches, 2: 114); but he afterwards retracted this position as being that of GEBA (Bibliotheca Sacra, 1844, page 598); and he has, finally fixed upon Tell El-Ful, about four miles north by west of Jerusalem, as the site of Gibeah of Saul (new ed. of Researches, 3: 286). Tell el-Ful ("hill of the bean") is a high knoll, with a curiously knobbed and double top, having a large heap of stones upon it. There seems to have originally been here a square tower, fifty-six feet by forty-eight, built of large unhewn stones, and apparently ancient; this has been thrown down, and the stones and rubbish, falling outside, have assumed the form of a large pyramidal mound. No trace of other foundations is to be seen. The spot is sightly, and commands a very extensive view of the country in all directions, especially towards the east. There are no other remains around the hill itself; but a few rods further west, directly upon the great road as it enters the lower plain or valley, there are seen a number of ancient substructions, consisting of large unhewn stones in low massive walls. Probably the ancient city extended down from the hill on this side and included this spot (Robinson, in Researches and Biblioth. Sacra, ut sup.; Stanley's Palestine, page 210). The ancient road from Jerusalem to Bethel and Shechem passes close along its western base, and Ramah is in full view on another hill two miles further north (Handbook of S. and P. page 325). The narrative of the Levite's journey is thus made remarkably graphic. He left Bethlehem in the afternoon to go home to Mount Ephraim. Two hours' travel (six miles) brought him alongside Jerusalem. Evening was now approaching. His servant advised him to lodge in Jebus, but he declined to stop with strangers, and said he would pass on to Gibeah or Ramah. The "sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah," and they resolved to pass the night there (Judges 19). The site of Gibeah was well adapted to form the capital of Israel during the troublous times of Saul, when the whole country was overrun by the hostile bands of the Philistines. It was naturally strong, it was on the very crest of the mountain range, and it commanded a wide view, so that Saul's watchmen could give timely notice of the approach of the enemy.

2. Gibeah Of Judah situated in the mountains of that tribe ( Joshua 15:57, where it is named with Maon and the southern Carmnel; compare  1 Chronicles 2:49), which, under the name of Gabatha ( Γαβαθά ) , Eusebius and Jerome place twelve Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, and state that the grave of the prophet Habakkuk was there to be seen (Onomasticon, s.v. Γαβαάθ , Gabaath; although they there confound it with the Gibeah of Phinehas in Ephraim, and elsewhere [s.v. Κεειλά , Ceila] state that Habakkuk's tomb was shown in Keilah), or, more probably, one of those by a similar name ( Γαβαά , Γαβαθα ) lying in the Daroma or near Bethlehem (Ib. s.v. Γαβαθών , Gabathon). Dr. Robinson (Researches, 2:327) identifies it with the village of Jebah , which stands upon an isolated hill, in the midst of wady el-Mussur, about ten miles southwest of Jerusalem; but this is too far from the associated names in Joshua, which require a location southeast of Hebron (Kil, Comment. ad loc.), possibly at the ruins on a mound with caves marked as Erfaiyeh on Van de Velde's Map east of tell Zif. (See Judah).

3. Gibeah Of Phinehas in Mount Ephraim, where the high-priest Eleazar, son of Aaron, was buried by his son Phinehas ( Joshua 24:33, where the name is rendered "hill of Phinehas"). Eusebius and Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Γηβενά , Gebin) probably mention this place by the name of Geba (although they incorrectly identify this with the Gebim of  Isaiah 10:31) (s.v. "Gebim"), five Roman miles from Gophna, on the road to Neapolis (Shechem), which was itself fifteen Roman miles north of Jerusalem. Josephus appears also to allude to it ( Γαβαθά , Ant. 5:1, 20). Dr. Robinson (Researches, 3:80, note) finds it in a narrow valley called wady el-Jib, the Geeb of Maundrell, lying just midway on the road between Jerusalem and Shechem; the indication of direction in the Onomasticon agrees with the position of the village Jibed (located on that wady), west of the Nablus road, half way between Bethel and Shiloh (Van de Velde, Memoir, p. £ 15), but the distance still better suits that of the Moslem ruined village Jibia, west of this (Robinson, Researches, 3, Append. page 125; Van de Velde, Map).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gib´ē̇ - a ( גּבעה , gibh‛āh , "hill"): The Hebrew word denotes generally an eminence or hill, in distinction from har , which is used for mountain, or mountain range. It occurs, however, in two instances, as a place-name. Under Geba (which see) we have seen that Geba, Gibeah, and Gibeon are liable to be confused. This arises from their resemblance in form and meaning.

(1) An unidentified city in the territory of Judah ( Joshua 15:57 ). It is named in the group containing Carmel, Ziph and Kain; it is therefore probably to be sought to the Southeast of Hebron. It may be one of the two villages mentioned by Eusebius, Onomasticon (s.v. " Gabathōn "), Gabaa and Gabatha; in the East of the Daroma. It is probably identical with Gibeah mentioned in  2 Chronicles 13:2 .

(2) A city described as belonging to Benjamin ( Joshua 18:28;  Judges 19:14 ) Gibeah of Benjamin ( 1 Samuel 13:2 ,  1 Samuel 13:15;  1 Samuel 14:16 ), Gibeah of the children of Benjamin ( 2 Samuel 23:29 ), Gibeah of Saul ( 1 Samuel 11:4;  Isaiah 10:29 ), and possibly, also, Gibeah of God ( 1 Samuel 10:5 margin); see Gibeath , 4.

1. History

The narrative in which it first appears is one of extraordinary and tragic interest, casting priceless light on the conditions prevailing in those days when "there was no king in Israel" ( Judges 19 ff). A L evite sojourning on the farther side of Mt. Ephraim was deserted by his concubine who returned to her father's house in Beth-lehem-judah. Thither he went to persuade her to return. Hospitably entertained by her father, he tarried till the afternoon of the fifth day. The evening was nigh when they came over against Jebus - J erusalem - but, rejecting his servant's suggestion that they should lodge in this "city of a stranger" - i.e. the Jebusite - the Levite pressed on, and when they were near to Gibeah the sun set. They entered the city and sat down in the street. The laws of hospitality today do not compel the entertainment of strangers who arrive after sunset. But it may have been through disregard of all law that they were left unbefriended. An old man from Mt. Ephraim took pity on them, invited them to his house, and made himself responsible for their necessities. Then follows the horrible story of outrage upon the Levite's concubine; the way in which he made known his wrongs to Israel; and the terrible revenge exacted from the Benjamites, who would not give up to justice the miscreants of Gibeah.

Gibeah was the home of Saul, the first king of Israel, and thither he returned after his election at Mizpah ( 1 Samuel 10:26 ). From Gibeah he summoned Israel to assemble for the relief of Jabesh-gilead, which was threatened by Nahash the Ammonite ( 1 Samuel 11:4 ). In the wars of Saul with the Philistines, Gibeah seems to have played a conspicuous part ( 1 Samuel 13:15 ). Here were exposed the bodies of the seven sons of Saul, slain by David's orders, to appease the Gibeonites, furnishing the occasion for Rizpah's pathetic vigil ( 2 Samuel 21:1 ). Gibeah is mentioned in the description of the Assyrian advance on Jerusalem ( Isaiah 10:29 ).

2. Identification

The site now generally accepted as that of Gibeah is on Teleil el - Fūl , an artificial mound about 4 miles North of Jerusalem, a short distance East of the high road to Shechem. A little way North of Teleil el - Fūl , the high road bifurcates, one branch turning eastward to Jeba‛ , i.e. Geba (which should be read instead of "Gibeah" in   Judges 20:31 ); the other continuing northward to Bethel. Not far from the parting of the ways, on the road to Jeba‛ lies er - Rām , corresponding to Ramah ( Judges 19:13 ). At Gibeah, about 30 furlongs from Jerusalem, Titus encamped for the night on his advance against the city from the North Teleil el - Fūl quite satisfactorily suits all the data here indicated.

The words in  Judges 20:33 rendered by the King James Version "the meadows of Gibeah," the Revised Version (British and American) "Maareh-geba" - simply transliterating - and the Revised Version, margin "the meadow of Geba" (or Gibeah), by a slight emendation of the text, read "from the west of Gibeah," which is certainly correct.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Gib´eah. There were several places of this name, which, as before remarked [GEBA], is the feminine form of the word Gibeah, and signifies a hill. Without doubt all the places so named were situated upon hills.

1. Gibeah of Benjamin is historically the most important of the places bearing this name. It is often mentioned in Scripture. It was the scene of that abominable transaction which involved in its consequences almost the entire extirpation of the tribe of Benjamin (, sq.). It was the birth-place of Saul, and continued to be his residence after he became king (;;;; ); and here was the scene of Jonathan's romantic exploit against the Philistines (1 Samuel 14). It was doubtless on account of this its intimate connection with Saul, that the Gibeonites hanged up here his seven descendants . Jerome speaks of Gibeah as, in his time, level with the ground, and since then it does not appear to have been visited by travelers till recently. Dr. Robinson, who made many valuable observations in this neighborhood, detected Gibeah in the small and half-ruined village of Jeba, which lies upon a low, conical, or rather round eminence, on the broad ridge which shelves down towards the Jordan valley, and spreads out below the village in a fine sloping plain. The views of the Dead Sea and the Jordan, and of the Eastern mountains, are here very extensive. Among the ruins some large hewn stones, indicating antiquity, are occasionally seen. This place is about five miles north by east from Jerusalem.

2. Gibeah in the mountains of Judah . which, under the name of Gabaatha, Eusebius and Jerome place twelve Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, and state that the grave of the prophet Habakkuk was there to be seen. Dr. Robinson identifies it with the village of Jebah, which stands upon an isolated hill, in the midst of Wady-el-Musurr, about ten miles south-west of Jerusalem.

3. Gibeah in Mount Ephraim, called Gibeah of Phineas, where the high-priest Eleazar, son of Aaron, was buried by his son Phineas . Dr. Robinson finds it in a narrow valley called Wady-el-Jib, the Geeb of Maundrell, lying just midway on the road between Jerusalem and Shechem.