Geba

GEBA (Heb. gebha', 'a hill') - A city of Benjamin, on the NE. frontier (Jos.18.24), assigned to the Levites (Jos.21.17, 1 Ch.6.80). It stands for the northern limit of the kingdom of Judah (2 K.23.8 'from Geba to Beersheba'). In 2 S.5.25 we should probably read 'Gibeon' (so LXX) as in 1 Ch.14.16. The position of Geba is fixed in 1 S.14.5 S. of the great Wadi Suweinit, over against Michmash, the modern Mukhmas. This was the scene of Jonathan's famous exploit against the Philistines. Everything points to its identity with Jeba', a village 6 miles N. of Jerusalem. It occupied an important position commanding the passage of the valley from the north. It was fortified by Asa (1 K.15.22). It appears in Isaiah's picture of the approach of the Assyrian upon Jerusalem (10.28ff). It is mentioned also as occupied after the Exile (Neh.11.31, Ezr.2.26, 1 Es.5.20 [AV Gabdes, RV Gabbe]). It seems to be confused with the neighbouring Gibeah in Jg.20.10 (Heb. Geba ; EV Gibeah) 33 (Heb. Geba; so RSV; AV Gibeah with LXX, RV Maareh-geba, q.v.), 1 S.13.3 (EV Geba, following Hebrew; LXX Gibeah) 16 (see Driver, Notes on ... Samuel 2, 1913, 101 f).

2. A stronghold in Samaria, between which and Scythopolis Holofernes pitched his camp (Jth.3.10).

[Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963. - W.E. - H.H.R.]