A town in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin (I Chr 8:6; Josh 18:24 where it is called Gaba), identified with the modern village of Jaba, 5� miles (9 km) north of Jerusalem. Geba was allotted to the descendants of Aaron, the high priest (Josh 21:17; I Chr 6:60). It served as the base for the Israelite forces of Saul and Jonathan during the battle with the Philistines at Michmash (I Sam 13:16; 14:5).
Geba is next mentioned as a night-station on the route of the Assyrian army to Jerusalem (Is 10:29), while in the description of Josiah's religious reforms, it marks the place of the northernmost bamah (high place) defiled by that king (II Kgs 23:8). It has, however, been suggested that the town here named, as well as that mentioned in Zechariah 14:10, is a more northerly Geba which marked the northern border of Judah in late First Temple times.
Following the Babylonian Exile, the inhabitants of Geba were among the first to return to their town (Ezra 2:26; Neh 7:30), and they are later numbered among the inhabitants of Benjamin by Nehemiah.
There appears to be some confusion between Geba and Gibeah, both of which are in the territory of Benjamin, and it has been suggested that some of the biblical references to Geba in fact refer to Gibeah, commonly identified with Tell el-Ful (Judg 20:33; I Sam 13:3; II Sam 5:25; I Kgs 15:22; II Chr 16:6). On the other hand, it has been argued that the two names refer to one and the same site.
Concordance
Josh 21:17. Judg 20:33. I Sam 13:3; 14:5. II Sam 5:25. I Kgs 15:22. II Kgs 23:8. I Chr 6:60; 8:6. II Chr 16:6. Ezra 2:26. Neh 7:30; 11:31; 12:29. Is 10:29. Zech 14:10
