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Gezer

Ephraim (Shephelah)

City in Ephraim (Shephelah) · today Tel Gezer, Israel

Meaning: “Portion, cut off

A Canaanite city on the edge of the coastal plain, finally given to Solomon as a wedding dowry.

Location

Overview

Gezer guarded the junction of the coastal highway and the road up to Jerusalem, making it one of the most strategic cities of the lowlands.

The king of Gezer defeated

When "Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish," Joshua struck him and his people until none were left (Joshua 10:33). Yet the Canaanites were not driven out, and "the Canaanites dwell in Gezer" (Joshua 16:10; Judges 1:29).

A Levitical city

Gezer was assigned to the Kohathite Levites (Joshua 21:21) and remained a contested border town through the era of the judges and the Philistine wars (2 Samuel 5:25).

Solomon's dowry city

Pharaoh captured Gezer, "and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife." Solomon then rebuilt it along with Hazor and Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15–17).

Events Here

1406 BC

Joshua defeats the king of Gezer who came to help Lachish

Joshua 10:33
960 BC

Solomon rebuilds Gezer, received as Pharaoh’s dowry

1 Kings 9:17

Scripture References

12 verses
Joshua5 verses

Joshua 10:33

Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

Joshua 12:12

The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

Joshua 16:3

And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

Joshua 16:10

And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

Joshua 21:21

For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,

Judges1 verse

Judges 1:29

Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

1 Kings3 verses

1 Kings 9:15

And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

1 Kings 9:16

For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife.

1 Kings 9:17

And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,

1 Chronicles3 verses

1 Chronicles 6:67

And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,

1 Chronicles 7:28

And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof: towns: Heb. daughters unto Gaza: or, Adassa

1 Chronicles 20:4

And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued. arose: or, continued: Heb. stood Gezer: or, Gob the giant: or, Rapha

Archaeology & History

Tel Gezer has been excavated since the early 20th century, revealing massive Canaanite walls, a high place with standing stones, a water tunnel, and a six-chambered gate of the type associated with Solomon. The "Gezer calendar," one of the oldest known Hebrew inscriptions, was found here.

People who appear here

Solomon3×
Joshua1×

Frequently asked about Gezer

Where is Gezer today?

Today, Gezer corresponds to Tel Gezer, Israel.

What does the name Gezer mean?

The name Gezer means “Portion, cut off”.

What happened at Gezer in the Bible?

Key biblical events at Gezer include joshua defeats the king of gezer who came to help lachish; solomon rebuilds gezer, received as pharaoh’s dowry.

Where is Gezer first mentioned in the Bible?

Gezer is first mentioned in Joshua 10:33.

How often is Gezer mentioned in the Bible?

Gezer is mentioned in 12 verses across 4 books: Joshua, Judges, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles.

How did Solomon come to possess Gezer?

Pharaoh captured and burned Gezer and gave it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife; Solomon then rebuilt it as a fortified city.

Where is Gezer?

In the Shephelah (lowlands) of Israel, at Tel Gezer, commanding the route between the coastal plain and the Jerusalem hills.