Gibbethon
Gib'bethon (Hebrew Gibbethon', גִּבִַּתוֹן a height; Sept. Γαβαθών v.r. Γαβεθών, Γαβαων, Γεθεδάν and Βεγεθων), a city of the Philistines, which was included in thee territories of the tribe of Dan (Jos 19:44), and was assigned, with its "suburbs," to the Kohatbite Levites (Jos 21:23). It was still in the hands of the Philistines in the time of Nadab king of Israel, who besieged it, and was slain under its walls by Baasha, one of his own officers (1Ki 15:27). B.C. 950. The effort to expel the Philistines seems to have been continued by the forces. of the northern kingdom, till the siege was finally raised by Omri in consequence of the necessity of pursuing the usurper Zimri (1Ki 16:15). B.C. 926. It is said by Essebius and Jesome (apparently even to their time) to be inhabited by Gentiles (τῶν Α᾿λλοφύλων Γαβαθών), but they expressly distinguish this from the Danite towns, and they seem uncertain whether to identify it with a village (πολίχνη) called Gabe (Γαβέ), about 16 R. miles froeis Caesarea, sear the great plain of Legio, or with one of two or three other places named Gabbbatha (Onomast. s.v. Γαβαθών, Gabathon). Josephus (Ant. 8:12, 5) calls it Gabathone (Γαβαθώνη ). The signification oif the name and the great strength of the plaice seem to fix it upon the hills west of Gibeah of Benjamin (with which M.D. Saulcy confounds its locality, Narrative, 1:98). It is possibly the modern large village Saidon, a short distance beyond the well S.E. of Ramleh (Robinson, Researches, 3:21). Van de Velde calls it also Sheik Musa (Memoir, page 114).
