Gezer, also known as Gob, was a Canaanite city conquered by Joshua and later by David, and it was fortified by Solomon (Joshua 10:33; 12:12; 16:3, 10; 21:21; Judges 1:29; 2Sa.5.25; 21:18-19; 1Ki.9.15-17; 1Ch.6.67; 7:28; 14:16; 20:4, 10; 21:21; Judges 1:29; 2Sa.5.25; 21:18-19; 1Ki.9.15-17; 1Ch.6.67; 7:28; 14:16; 20:4).
Also known as Gazer · Gob
Gezer, also referred to as Gob, was a significant Canaanite city located in the region allotted to the tribe of Ephraim. It was originally ruled by a Canaanite king, Horam, who came to the aid of Lachish but was defeated by Joshua (Joshua 10:33; 12:12). Although the city was assigned to the Levites (Joshua 21:21; 1Ch.6.67), the Ephraimites failed to drive out the Canaanites, who continued to live there (Joshua 16:10; Judges 1:29). During the reign of David, the Israelites fought battles against the Philistines at Gob (Gezer), where David's warriors defeated the giants (2Sa.21.18-19; 1Ch.20.4). David also defeated the Philistines from Geba to Gezer (2Sa.5.25; 1Ch.14.16). Later, King Solomon fortified Gezer, along with other key cities, using the labor of the Canaanites (1Ki.9.15-17). Gezer is mentioned as part of the inheritance of the descendants of Ephraim (1Ch.7.28). The city's strategic location and its history of Canaanite occupation make it a significant site in the narratives of the conquest and establishment of Israel in the Promised Land.
Approximate location: 31.876, 34.922 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
A precipice, an ancient royal Canaanitish city (Josh. 10:33; 12:12). It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites (21:21; 1 Chr. 6:67). It stood between the lower Beth-horon and the sea (Josh. 16:3; 1 Kings 9:17). It was the last point to which David pursued the Philistines (2 Sam. 5:25; 1 Chr. 14:16) after the battle of Baal-perazim. The Canaanites retained possession of it till the time of Solomon, when the king of Egypt took it and gave it to Solomon as a part of the dowry of the Egyptian princess whom he married (1 Kings 9:15-17). It is identified with Tell el-Jezer, about 10 miles south-west of Beth-horon. It is mentioned in the Amarna tablets.
(a precipice), an ancient city of Canaan, whose king, Hiram or Elam, coming to the assistance of Lachish, was killed with all his people by Joshua. (Joshua 10:33; 12:12) It formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of Ephraim, between the lower Beth-horon and the Mediterranean, (Joshua 16:3) the western limit of the tribe (1 Chronicles 7:28) It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites, (Joshua 21:21; 1 Chronicles 6:67) but the original inhabitants were not dispossessed, (Judges 1:29) and even down to the reign of Solomon the Canaanites were still dwelling there, and paying tribute to Israel (1 Kings 9:16) It was burned by Pharaoh in Solomon’s time, (1 Kings 9:15-17) and given to Solomon’s Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him.
GE'ZER (steep place), called also GAZER, GAZA'RA, GAZE'RA, and GAD, a royal city of Canaan, and one of the oldest cities of the land.Josh 10:33; Josh 12:12. Gezer was in Benjamin; given to Kohath, Josh 21:21; 1 Chr 6:67; noticed in the wars of David, 1 Sam 27:8; 2 Sam 5:25; 1 Chr 20:4; burned by Pharaoh in Solomon's days, 1 Kgs 9:15-17; given to Solomon's Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him; was an important city in the time of the Maccabees. M. Ganneau, from a hint given by an old Arab chronicler, has identified Gezer with Tell el-Jezer, 4 miles from Nicopolis. Numerous ruins were found, indicating a city of importance, and inscriptions in Greek and square Hebrew characters giving the name and noting the boundaries of the Levitical city — a discovery of great importance, being the only one of its kind as yet brought to light.
GE'ZER (steep place), called also GAZER, GAZA'RA, GAZE'RA, and GAD, a royal city of Canaan, and one of the oldest cities of the land.Josh 10:33; Josh 12:12. Gezer was in Benjamin; given to Kohath, Josh 21:21; 1 Chr 6:67; noticed in the wars of David, 1 Sam 27:8; 2 Sam 5:25; 1 Chr 20:4; burned by Pharaoh in Solomon's days, 1 Kgs 9:15-17; given to Solomon's Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him; was an important city in the time of the Maccabees. M. Ganneau, from a hint given by an old Arab chronicler, has identified Gezer with Tell el-Jezer, 4 miles from Nicopolis. Numerous ruins were found, indicating a city of importance, and inscriptions in Greek and square Hebrew characters giving the name and noting the boundaries of the Levitical city — a discovery of great importance, being the only one of its kind as yet brought to light.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
16 verses in 5 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1507
At that time Horam king of Gezer went to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.
the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea.
But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.
they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Gezer,
Ephraim also failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer; so the Canaanites continued to dwell among them in Gezer.
So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaverʼs beam.
This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomonʼs wife.
So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon,
They were given Shechem (a city of refuge) with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer,
Their holdings and settlements included Bethel and its villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages as far as Ayyah and its villages.
So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.