Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
- V. 25. Gibeon , the present Jib: see at Josh 9:3. Ramah , in the neighbourhood of
Gibeah and Geba (Judg 19:13; Isa 10:29; 1 Kings 15:17; Ezra 2:26), most probably
the Ramah of Samuel (1 Sam 1:19; 2:11; 25:1; 28:3), is the present village of er-Râm
, upon a mountain with ruins between Gibeon and Geba, half an hour to the west of
the latter, two hours to the north of Jerusalem (see Rob. ii. p. 315). Beeroth , the
present Bireh: see at Josh 9:17.
Verse 26-27. Mizpeh , commonly called Mizpah , where the war with Benjamin was
decided upon (Judg 19-21), and where Samuel judged the people, and chose Saul as
king (1 Sam 7:5ff., Josh 10:17), was afterwards the seat of the Babylonian governor
Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:23; Jer 40:6ff.). According to the Onom. ( s. v. Massepha ), it
was near Kirjath-jearim, and Robinson (ii. p. 139) is no doubt correct in supposing it
to be the present Neby Samvil (i.e., prophet Samuel), an hour and a quarter to the east
of Kureyet Enab (Kirjath-jearim), two hours to the north-west of Jerusalem, half an
hour to the south of Gibeon, a place which stands like a watch-tower upon the highest
point in the whole region, and with a mosque, once a Latin church, which is believed
alike by Jews, Christians, and Mahometans to cover the tomb of the prophet Samuel
(see Rob. ii. pp. 135ff.). Chephirah , i.e., Kefir: see at Josh 9:17. Mozah is only
mentioned here, and is still unknown. V. 27. This also applies to Rekem, Irpeel , and
Taralah.
Verse 28. Zelah , the burial-place of Saul and his family (2 Sam 21:14), is otherwise
unknown. Gibeath or Gibeah , i.e., Gibeah of Benjamin, which was destroyed by the
other tribes of Israel in the time of the judges, on account of the flagrant crime which
had been committed there (Judg 19-20), is also called Gibeah of Saul , as being the
home and capital of Saul (1 Sam 10:26; 11:4, etc.), and was situated, according to
Judg 19:13 and Isa 10:29, between Jerusalem and Ramah, according to Josephus
(Bell. Jud. v. 2, 1, 8) about twenty or thirty stadia from Jerusalem. These statements
point to the Tell or Tuleil el Phul , i.e., bean-mountain, a conical peak about an hour
from Jerusalem, on the road to er-Râm, with a large heap of stones upon the top,
probably the ruins of a town that was built of unhewn stones, from which there is a
very extensive prospect in all directions ( Rob. ii. p. 317). Consequently modern
writers have very naturally agreed in the conclusion, that the ancient Gibeah of
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