Gezer
From BibleWiki
Meaning: a precipice
An ancient royal Canaanitish city (Josh 10:33; Josh 12:12). It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites (Josh 21:21; 1Chr 6:67). It stood between the lower Beth-horon and the sea (Josh 16:3; 1 Kg 9:17). It was the last point to which David pursued the Philistines (2 Sam 5:25; 1Chr 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.
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Ancient Canaanitish city mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions and the Amarna letters as being the seat of a local prince (comp. Josh 10:33, Josh 12:12). The Israelites failed to conquer it (Josh 16:10; Jdg 1:29; comp. 2 Sam 5:25; 1Chr 14:16). Solomon received it as a present from the Egyptian king (who had destroyed it), and rebuilt it (1 Kg 9:15ff). The city is mentioned in Josh 16:3 and 1Chr 7:28 as an Ephraimite border city; in Josh 21:21 and 1Chr 6:52 as a Levitical city (comp. 1Chr 20:4: reading uncertain). At the time of the Maccabees it is again met with; it was fortified by Bacchides, but was conquered by Simon, who drove out the inhabitants and settled it with faithful Jews (1Macc 4:15; 1Macc 7:45; 1Macc 9:52; 1Macc 13:43ff; 1Macc 14:7, 1Macc 14:34; 1Macc 15:28; 1Macc 16:1). Under Gabinius, Gazara (Greek, "Gadara") became the chief town of its district. The site was unknown until Clermont-Ganneau in 1873 discovered it in Tell al-Jazar, near 'Amwas. Here the famous boundary-stone was found with the inscription (image) in Maccabean characters. See illustration under Boundaries.
