A Levitical city in Benjamin
Geba
Named in 16 verses across 10 books, first in Joshua 18:24.
גֶּ֫בַעGeba
The name means “a hill; cup.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Geba Written by AI
Geba was a city located in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, situated on the northern border of the kingdom of Judah. It was assigned to the Levites as one of their cities (Joshua 21:17; 1Ch.6.60). Geba is first mentioned in the Bible during the time of King Saul, when Jonathan, Saul's son, attacked a Philistine garrison stationed there (1Sa.13.3). Later, during the reign of King Asa of Judah, Geba was fortified using materials from Ramah, which Asa had destroyed (1Ki.15.22; 2Ch.16.6). After the Babylonian exile, Geba was one of the cities resettled by the returning Israelites (Ezra 2:26; Nehemiah 7:30). It was also mentioned as a city inhabited by the Levites and singers (Nehemiah 11:31; 12:29). The prophet Isaiah mentions Geba in a prophecy concerning the advance of the Assyrian army towards Jerusalem (Isaiah 10:29). In a future prophecy, Zechariah declares that the land will be inhabited from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, indicating the extent of the restored land (Zechariah 14:10). Geba's location on the northern border of Judah made it a strategically important city throughout Israel's history, serving as a defensive outpost and a Levitical city.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
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 Palestine (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.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
31.858, 35.260 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Joshua 18:24
Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
- Joshua 21:17
And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,
- 1 Samuel 13:3
Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
- 1 Samuel 13:16
Now Saul and Jonathan his son and the troops with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
- 1 Samuel 14:5
One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.
- 1 Kings 15:22
Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.
- 2 Kings 23:8
Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which was to the left of the city gate.
- 1 Chronicles 6:60
And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. So they had thirteen cities in all among their families.
- 1 Chronicles 8:6
These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath:
- 2 Chronicles 16:6
Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.
- Ezra 2:26
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
- Nehemiah 7:30
the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;
- Nehemiah 11:31
The descendants of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel with its villages;
- Nehemiah 12:29
from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for they had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 10:29
They have crossed at the ford: “We will spend the night at Geba.” Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul flees.
- Zechariah 14:10
All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.