GEBA (Heb. geba’ , ‘a hill’). A city of Benjamin, on the N.E. frontier ( Joshua 18:24 ), assigned to the Levites ( Joshua 21:17 , 1 Chronicles 6:60 ). It stands for the N. limit of the kingdom of Judah ( 2 Kings 23:8 ‘from Geba to Beersheba’). In 2 Samuel 5:25 we should probably read ‘Gibeon’ as in 1 Chronicles 14:16 . The position of Geba is fixed in 1 Samuel 14:5 S. of the great Wâdy Suweinît , over against Michmash, the modern Mukhmâs . 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 Kings 15:22 ). It appears in Isaiah’s picture of the approach of the Assyrian upon Jerusalem ( 1 Kings 10:28 ff.). It is mentioned also as occupied after the Exile ( Nehemiah 11:31 , Ezra 2:26 etc.). It seems to be confused with the neighbouring Gibeah in Judges 20:10; Jdg 20:33 , 1 Samuel 13:8; 1 Samuel 13:16 . In Judges 20:31 ‘Gibeah’ should be ‘Geba.’ 2 . A stronghold in Samaria, between which and Scythopolis Holofernes pitched his camp ( Jdt 3:10 ). Perhaps Jeba‘a is intended, about 2 miles S. of Sanûr , on the road to Jenîn .
W. Ewing.