What is…
Gibeah

also known as: Gibah

Hebrew: גִּבְעָה —transliteration: Gibah or Gib'ah —meaning: hill

Gibeah is the name of 3 places in ancient Israel—one in the Tribe of Benjamin (the most noted), and the others in the Tribe of Judah and of Ephraim.

Gibeah, of Benjamin

also known as: Gibeah of Saul and Gibeah of God

This ancient Israelite hill and hill-town of the Tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 13:15) is better known as “Gibeah of Saul” (1 Samuel 11:4; Isaiah 10:29).

It was here that a terrible outrage was committed on the Levite’s concubine which led to the almost utter eradication of the Tribe of Benjamin (Judges 19; Judges 20), only 600 men surviving after a succession of disastrous battles.

King Saul

Gibeah is the birthplace of King Saul, and continued to be his residence after he became king (1 Samuel 10:26; 11:4; 15:34).

Sanctuary city

It was among the ancient sanctuaries of Israel (1 Samuel 10:26; 15:34; 23:19; 26:1; 2 Samuel 21:6-10), and hence it is called “Hill of God” (Gibeah of God).

Afterward you will come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is; and it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying. —1 Samuel 10:5

Executions

The 5 sons of princess Merab (daughter of King Saul) and Adriel were all executed by hanging by the Gibeonites on the hill of Gibeah (2 Samuel 21:8).

Location and Archaeology

Gibeah of Saul has been identified with Tell el-Ful (aka Tell el-Fūl, meaning “hill of the bean”), in northern Jerusalem.

Tell el-Ful. The remains of an unfinished summer palace (1965) for King Hussein of Jordan is on this same hill. Israel captured this in the 1967 War, halting its construction. However, it remains under the ownership of the Hashemite Kingdom. —satellite view

Ruins of an ancient fortress are evident on this hill, and various digs have been undertaken beginning in 1868. The high hill provides a fine 360° view of the surrounding territory.

Main finds at Tell el-Ful

Gibeah, of Judah

“This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families. …Maon, Carmel and Ziph and Juttah, and Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah and Timnah; 10 cities with their villages.” —Joshua 15:20-57 excerpt

Gibeah, of Ephraim

This city was alloted to the Tribe of Ephraim. In the book of Joshua it is called the “Gibeah of Phinehas.” Phinehas is a son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, both high priests during the Exodus. However, it was not a Levitical city.

And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gibeah of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim. —Joshua 24:33

This Gibeah is probably at Awarta, traditionally known as the hill of Phinehas (Giv'at Phinehas).1 A synagogue is near this place which is marked as Eli'ezer Ben Aharon Tomb.

Eli'ezer Ben Aharon Tomb—satellite view
  1. Sefi Ben-Yosef, “Awarta,” in David Grossman, editor, “Israel Guide - The Northern Valleys, Mount Carmel and Samaria,” Vol. 8. (Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House, 1980), pp. 345–347.

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