grandson of Caleb, as it is not at all unlikely that Caleb’s son Haran named his son Gazez after his brother. But if the phrase, “As for Haran, he became father to Gazez,” is simply a clarification identifying the Gazez mentioned initially as, not Caleb’s son, but his grandson, this would mean there was only one Gazez, namely, the son of Haran and grandson of Caleb.

GAZITES

(Gaʹzites).

Inhabitants of Gaza, the word applying in both of its occurrences to Philistines.—Josh. 13:2, 3; Judg. 16:1, 2; see GAZA No. 1.

GAZZAM

(Gazʹzam) [caterpillar].

Forefather of some Nethinim who returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel.—Ezra 2:1, 2, 43, 48; Neh. 7:46, 51.

GEBA

(Geʹba) [hill].

A city of Benjamin given to the Kohathites; one of the thirteen priestly cities. (Josh. 18:21, 24; 21:17, 19; 1 Chron. 6:54, 60) Geba apparently was situated by the northern boundary of the kingdom of Judah, whence the expression “from Geba as far as Beer-sheba.” (2 Ki. 23:8) The ancient city is usually identified with the modern village of Jeba, about six miles (10 kilometers) N-NE of Jerusalem. A steep valley separates this site from the suggested location of ancient Michmash. In the valley there are two hills with steep rocky sides. These perhaps correspond to the ‘toothlike crags’ Bozez and Seneh, one “facing Michmash,” the other “facing Geba.”—1 Sam. 14:4, 5.

Geba was one of the cities that figured in King Saul’s campaign against the Philistines. Evidently at the direction of his father Saul, Jonathan struck down the Philistine “garrison” (“prefect,” Mo) at Geba (“Gibeah,” Vg). (1 Sam. 13:3, 4; see GIBEAH No. 2.) In retaliation, the Philistines assembled a mighty force at Michmash, whereupon many Israelites fearfully went into hiding, some even fleeing across the Jordan. (1 Sam. 13:5-7) Later, Jonathan, accompanied by his armor-bearer, made his way from Geba to the Philistine outpost, undoubtedly stationed at the edge of the “ravine pass of Michmash.” On his hands and feet, Jonathan ascended the steep passage to the outpost and, with the cooperation of his armor-bearer, struck down about twenty Philistines.—1 Sam. 14:6-14; compare 1 Samuel 13:16, 23.

Years later Asa fortified Geba with stones and timbers of Ramah. (1 Ki. 15:22; 2 Chron. 16:6) At a time not specified in the Bible certain inhabitants of Geba were taken into exile at Manahath. (1 Chron. 8:6) On its way toward Jerusalem, the Assyrian army under Sennacherib apparently passed through Geba. (Isa. 10:24, 28-32) Among the Jews coming back from Babylonian exile were “sons of Geba”; the city itself was also reoccupied after the return. (Ezra 2:1, 26; Neh. 7:6, 30; 11:31; 12:29) Alluding to the exaltation of rebuilt Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah spoke of the hilly and mountainous land that lies between Geba and Rimmon as becoming low like the Arabah.—Zech. 14:10.

Concerning questionable references to Geba in the Masoretic text, see GIBEAH No. 2.

GEBAL

(Geʹbal), Gebalites (Geʹbal·ites).

1. Gebal, a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean seacoast, is identified with modern Jebeil, twenty miles (32.2 kilometers) N of Beirut. Historians consider Gebal, the Byblos of the Greeks, to be one of the oldest cities of the Near East.

Jehovah included “the land of the Gebalites” among those regions yet to be taken by Israel in Joshua’s day. (Josh. 13:1-5) Critics have picked on this as an inconsistency, since the city of Gebal was far N of Israel and apparently never came under Israelite domination. Certain scholars have suggested that the Hebrew text may be damaged at this verse and consider that the account anciently read “the land adjoining Lebanon,” or ‘as far as the border of the Gebalites.’ However, it should also be observed that Jehovah’s promises in Joshua 13:2-7 were conditional. Thus Israel never may have gained Gebal because of its own disobedience.—Compare Joshua 23:12, 13.

Gebalites helped Solomon in the eleventh century B.C.E. with the preparation of the materials for the temple construction. (1 Ki. 5:18) Jehovah lists the “old men of Gebal” among those who assisted in maintaining ancient Tyre’s commercial might and glory.—Ezek. 27:9.

2. A different Gebal is listed with Ammon and Amalek in Psalm 83:7, and thus apparently lay S or E of the Dead Sea. Although its exact location is unknown, some scholars place it in the vicinity of Petra, about sixty-three miles (101.4 kilometers) N of the Gulf of Aqabah.

[Picture on page 631]

Modern Jebeil (Gebal) on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea

GEBER

(Geʹber) [a man, a hero].

One of Solomon’s twelve deputies who had the responsibility of providing food for the king and his household one month out of the year. Geber is identified as the son of Uri, and it is probable that his son also served as a deputy.—1 Ki. 4:7, 13, 19.