King James Bible Dictionary

A precipice, an ancient royal Canaanitish city (Joshua 10:33; 12:12). It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites (21:21; 1 Chronicles 6:67). It stood between the lower Beth-horon and the sea (Joshua 16:3; 1 Kings 9:17). It was the last point to which David pursued the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:25; 1 Chronicles 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.

dividing, sentence

Called also Gazer, Gazara, Gazera, and Gob. A Canaanitish royal city.

King of, defeats Joshua
Joshua 10:33; Joshua 12:12

Canaanites not all expelled from, but made to pay tribute
Joshua 16:10; Judges 1:29

Allotted to Ephraim
Joshua 16:3; Joshua 16:10; 1 Chronicles 7:28

Assigned to Levites
Joshua 21:21

Battle with Philistines at
1 Chronicles 20:4; 2 Samuel 21:18

Smitten by David
1 Samuel 27:8

Fortified by Solomon
1 Kings 9:15-17

(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 Isr'l (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.