gezer Summary and Overview

a precipice, an ancient royal Canaanite city (Josh. 10:33; 12:12). It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites (21:21; 1 Chr. 6:67). It stood between the lower Beth-horon and the sea (Josh. 16:3; 1 Kings 9:17). It was the last point to which David pursued the Philistines (2 Sam. 5:25; 1 Chr. 14:16) after the battle of Baal-perazim. The Canaanites retained possession of it till the time of Solomon, when the king of Egypt took it and gave it to Solomon as a part of the dowry of the Egyptian princess whom he married (1 Kings 9:15-17). It is identified with Tell el-Jezer, about 10 miles south-west of Beth-horon. It is mentioned in the Amarna tablets.

(a precipice), an ancient city of Canaan, whose king, Hiram or Elam, coming to the assistance of Lachish, was killed with all his people by Joshua. #Jos 10:33; 12:12| It formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of Ephraim, between the lower Beth-horon and the Mediterranean, #Jos 16:3| the western limit of the tribe #1Ch 7:28| It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites, #Jos 21:21; 1Ch 6:67| but the original inhabitants were not dispossessed, #Jud 1:29| and even down to the reign of Solomon the Canaanites were still dwelling there, and paying tribute to Israel #1Ki 9:16| It was burned by Pharaoh in Solomon's time, #1Ki 9:15-17| and given to Solomon's Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him.

GE'ZER (steep place), called also GAZER, GAZA'RA, GAZE'RA, and GAD, a royal city of Canaan, and one of the oldest cities of the land.Josh 10:33; Josh 12:12. Gezer was in Benjamin; given to Kohath, Josh 21:21; 1 Chr 6:67; noticed in the wars of David, 1 Sam 27:8; 2 Sam 5:25; 1 Chr 20:4; burned by Pharaoh in Solomon's days, 1 Kgs 9:15-17; given to Solomon's Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him; was an important city in the time of the Maccabees. M. Ganneau, from a hint given by an old Arab chronicler, has identified Gezer with Tell el-Jezer, 4 miles from Nicopolis. Numerous ruins were found, indicating a city of importance, and inscriptions in Greek and square Hebrew characters giving the name and noting the boundaries of the Levitical city -- a discovery of great importance, being the only one of its kind as yet brought to light.

("cut off," i.e. "isolated".) An old Canaanite city, whose king, Horam or Elam, helping Lachish, was slain with his people by Joshua (Joshua 10:33; Joshua 12:12). A landmark of Ephraim, between lower Beth-horon and the Mediterranean (Joshua 16:3), on the S.W. border (1 Chronicles 7:28). Now Tell el Djezir near Abou Shusheh (Ganneau). Allotted to the Kohathite Levites (Joshua 21:21; 1 Chronicles 6:67). At a short distance from Tel el Djezir, on the E. side, engraved on a horizontal rock, is a bilingual Greek and Hebrew inscription marking the limit of Gezer (Numbers 35:5) as a Levitical city with its portion without the city. The inscription is at least as old as one century B.C.; also a second similar inscription exists on the N.W. Thus the sacred boundary was a square, having its four angles at the four cardinal points (Ganneau). The original inhabitants remained and paid tribute to Israel (Judges 1:29; 1 Kings 9:16-17). It must have been independent when Pharaoh slew the Canaanite inhabitants, burnt the city, and gave it a present to his daughter, Solomon's wife. Solomon rebuilt it. Gob is identified with it 1 Chronicles 20:4; compare 2 Samuel 21:18. It lay in the maritime plain, on the coast road to Egypt, an important post to fortify as it lay between Egypt and Jerusalem It is the last point to which David pursued the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:25; 1 Chronicles 14:16). Being 50 miles distant from "the S. of Judah ... and the Kenites," it cannot be meant in 1 Samuel 27:8. (See GERZITES.) The inscription in the rock discovered by Ganneau, "the boundary of Gezer," verifies the conjecture that Abou Shusheh on the plain between Jaffa and Jerusalem is the site of Gezer The discovery of the limit outside the city probably defines "a sabbath day's journey."