Bible Dictionaries
Gibeah

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A hill or hill-town, "of Benjamin" (1 Samuel 13:15 ), better known as "Gibeah of Saul" (11:4; Isaiah 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 (Judges 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 Samuel 10:26; 11:4; 15:34 ). It was reckoned among the ancient sanctuaries of Palestine (10:26; 15:34; 23:19; 26:1; 2 Samuel 21:6-10 ), and hence it is called "Gibeah of God" (1 Samuel 10:5 , RSV marg.). It has been identified with the modern Tell el-Ful (i.e., "hill of the bean"), about 3 miles north of Jerusalem.