geba Summary and Overview

the hill, (2 Sam. 5:25 [1 Chr. 14:16, "Gibeon"]; 2 Kings 23:8; Neh. 11:31), a Levitical city of Benjamin (1 Kings 15:22; 1 Sam. 13:16; 14:5, wrongly "Gibeah" in the A.V.), on the north border of Judah near Gibeah (Isa. 10:29; Josh. 18:24, 28). "From Geba to Beersheba" expressed the whole extent of the kingdom of Judah, just as "from Dan to Beersheba" described the whole length of Israel (2 Kings 23:8). It has been identified with Gaba (Josh. 18:24; Ezra 2:26; Neh. 7:30), now Jeb'a, about 5 1/2 miles north of Jerusalem.

(a hill), a city of Benjamin, with "suburbs," allotted to the priests. #Jos 21:17; 1Ch 6:60| It is named amongst the first group of the Benjamite towns --apparently those lying near to and along the north boundary. #Jos 18:24| Here the name is given as GABA. During the wars of the earlier part of the reign of Saul, Geba was held as a garrison by the Philistines, #1Sa 13:3| but they were ejected by Jonathan. It is now the modern village of Jeba, which stands picturesquely on the top of its steep terraced hill, six miles north of Jerusalem, on the very edge of the great Wady Suweinit, looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Michmash, which also retains its old name of Mukhmas.

GE'BA (kill), a Levitical city of Benjamin, Josh 21:17; 1 Chr 6:60; also called Gaba. Josh 18:24. In the reign of Saul it was held by the Philistines, but taken by Jonathan, 1 Sam 13:3; was a northern landmark of Judah, 2 Kgs 23:8; was rebuilt by Asa, 1 Kgs 15:22; held by the Assyrians, Isa 10:29; peopled by Benjamites after the Captivity. Ezr 2:26. Geba and Gibeah appear to be sometimes confounded in the English Version (see 1 Sam 14:5), though they were separate towns. Geba was near Michmash and on the south side of the ravine. It has been identified with Jeba, a deserted village 6 miles north of Jerusalem, and 1 mile from Michmash. The ravine now called Wady Suweinit is the ancient pass of Michmash. 1 Sam 14:5, 1 Sam 14:31.

("the hill".) A town of Benjamin, on its northern boundary, from whence "from Geba to Beersheba" expresses all Judah from N. to S. as "from Dan to Beersheba" expresses all Israel and Judah from N. to S. (2 Kings 23:8.) Close to Ramah (Nehemiah 7:30). As an eastern limit it stands opposed to Gazer (2 Samuel 5:25); Gibeon in 1 Chronicles 14:16. Geba was garrisoned by the Philistines at, the beginning of Saul's reign (1 Samuel 13:3). Jonathan dislodged them in a gallant assault with his armor-bearer alone (1 Samuel 14). Geba was on the S. and Michmash on the N. of the ravine. Now the village Jeba, crowning the steep hill on the edge of the wady Suweinit, facing Mukmas on the N. side. So in Isaiah 10:28-32, "he (Sennacherib) hath laid up his carriages at Michmash," i.e., the "carriages" (i.e. heavy baggage) could not be got across the wady at Michmash. Then "they are gone over the passage," i.e., the lighter part of the army pass the ravine which might have been easily guarded against them, and" lodge" malown, "rest for the night," bivouac) at Geba on the S. side. Asa fortified it, as commanding the pass (1 Kings 15:22; 2 Chronicles 16:6). KJV has rendered "Geba" into "Gibeah" rightly Judges 20:10; Judges 20:33; 1 Samuel 13:16.