Geba

A city of Benjamin, among the group of towns lying along the northern boundary (Josh. xviii. 24). Geba and its suburbs were allotted to the priests (ib. xxi. 17; I Chron. vi., 60). It is mentioned in II Kings xxiii. 8 as the northern landmark of the kingdom of Judah, in opposition to Beer-sheba, the southern; it is spoken of in II Sam. v. 25 as the eastern limit, in opposition to Gazer, the western. In the parallel passage, I Chron. xiv. 16, the name is changed to "Gibeon" "Geba" is sometimes used where "Gibeah" is meant, and vice versa, as in I Sam. xiv. 2, 16. See GIBEAH. In the time of Saul, Geba was occupied by the Philistines (ib. xiii. 3). The latter, ejected by Jonathan, made a furious onslaught, the armies being arrayed on opposite sides of the ravine which was between Geba on the south and Michmash on the north (ib. xiv. 4, 5). This description of the topography of Geba tallies with that given in Isa. x. 28, 29. Geba is identified with a village called "Jeba'," situated on a hill, opposite which there is a village called "Mukhmas," the Biblical "Michmash" (see Robinson, "Researches," ii. 113 et seq.; Buhl, "Geographie des Alten Palästinas," pp. 172-176).

E. G. H. M. Sel.