Gibbethon, a Levitical city in the territory of Dan, was the site of conflict during the reigns of Nadab and Baasha (Joshua 19:44; 21:23; 1Ki.15.27; 16:15, 17).
Gibbethon was a city allotted to the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:44) and designated as a Levitical city for the descendants of Kohath (Joshua 21:23). The city gained prominence during the period of the Divided Monarchy, particularly during the reigns of Nadab and Baasha, kings of Israel. Nadab, the son of Jeroboam I, was besieging Gibbethon when he was assassinated by Baasha (1Ki.15.27). Later, during the reign of Baasha's son Elah, the Israelite army was again besieging Gibbethon when Zimri, a commander of chariots, conspired against Elah and killed him (1Ki.16.15). The siege of Gibbethon by the Israelite army suggests that the city may have been under Philistine control at the time. These events highlight the strategic importance of Gibbethon and its role in the power struggles within the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Approximate location: 31.977, 35.005 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
A height, a city of the Philistines in the territory of Dan, given to the Kohathites (Josh. 19:44; 21:23). Nadab the king of Israel, while besieging it, was slain under its walls by Baasha, one of his own officers (1 Kings 15:27). It was in the possession of the Philistines after the secession of the ten tribes (2 Chr. 11:13, 14).
(a hill), a town allotted to the tribe of Dan, (Joshua 19:44) and afterwards given with its “suburbs” to the Kohathite Levites. ch. (Joshua 21:23)
a back; a high house
GIB'BETHON (height), a town of Dan: given to the Kohathites, Josh 19:44; Josh 21:23; held by the Philistines in the reigns of Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, and Omri. 1 Kgs 15:27; 1 Kgs 16:17. The siege lasted 27 years. Conder proposes to identify it with Gibbieh or Kibbieh, between Eltekah and Baalath.
GIB'BETHON (height), a town of Dan: given to the Kohathites, Josh 19:44; Josh 21:23; held by the Philistines in the reigns of Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, and Omri. 1 Kgs 15:27; 1 Kgs 16:17. The siege lasted 27 years. Conder proposes to identify it with Gibbieh or Kibbieh, between Eltekah and Baalath.
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.
5 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H1405
Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon,
Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city.
In the twenty-seventh year of Asaʼs reign over Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines,
Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.
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.