GEZER . A very ancient city of the Shephçlah, on the borders of the Philistine Plain; inhabited c [Note: circa, about.] . b.c. 3000 by a race probably kin to the Horites, who were succeeded by the Semitic Canaanites about b.c. 2500. These were not driven out by the invading Israelites ( Judges 1:29 ). In David’s time the city was in Philistine hands ( 1 Chronicles 20:4 ). The king of Egypt captured it, and gave it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife ( 1 Kings 9:16 ). Simon Maccabæus besieged and captured it, and built for himself a dwelling-place ( 1Ma 13:43-53 Gazara RV [Note: Revised Version.] ). The city has been partly excavated by the Palestine Exploration Fund, and Simon’s dwelling-place discovered, as well as a great Canaanite high place, and innumerable other remains of early Palestinian civilization.
R. A. S. Macalister.