Gibeah
a hill or hill-town, "of Benjamin" (1 Sam. 13:15), better known
as "Gibeah of Saul" (11:4; Isa. 10:29). It was here that the
terrible outrage was committed on the Levite's concubine which
led to the almost utter extirpation of the tribe of Benjamin
(Judg. 19; 20), only six hundred men surviving after a
succession of disastrous battles. This was the birthplace of
Saul, and continued to be his residence after he became king (1
Sam. 10:26; 11:4; 15:34). It was reckoned among the ancient
sanctuaries of Palestine (10:26; 15:34; 23:19; 26:1; 2 Sam.
21:6-10), and hence it is called "Gibeah of God" (1 Sam. 10:5,
R.V. marg.). It has been identified with the modern Tell el-Ful
(i.e., "hill of the bean"), about 3 miles north of Jerusalem.
|