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GIBEAH

a hill or hill-town, "of Benjamin" (1-Sam 13:15), better known as "Gibeah of Saul" (11:4; Isa. 10:29). It was here that the terrible outrage was committed on the Levite's concubine which led to the almost utter extirpation of the tribe of Benjamin (Judg. 19; 20), only six hundred men surviving after a succession of disastrous battles. This was the birthplace of Saul, and continued to be his residence after he became king (1-Sam 10:26;11:4;15:34). It was reckoned among the ancient sanctuaries of Palestine (10:26;15:34;23:19;26:1; 2-Sam 21:6), and hence it is called "Gibeah of God" (1-Sam 10:5, 1-Sam 10: R.V. marg.). It has been identified with the modern Tell el-Ful (i.e., "hill of the bean"), about 3 miles north of Jerusalem.