Gibbethon
LocationsGeographical Setting
An ancient fortified city in the Shephelah region of Judah, strategically positioned between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands.
What is the meaning of Gibbethon in the Bible?
Gibbethon was a city in the territory of Dan, assigned to the Kohathite Levites, and later captured by the Philistines. It was a significant location during the reigns of Baasha and Omri.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Gibbethon's strategic position in the Shephelah clarifies the military campaigns described in 1 Kings 15, where King Baasha besieged Asa to prevent fortification of Ramah, illustrating the geopolitical tensions between the northern and southern kingdoms.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Gibbethon in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Gibbethon clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.