Meaning
Gezer (a precipice), an ancient city of Canaan, whose king, Hiram or Elam, coming to the assistance of Lachish, was killed with all his people by Joshua. (Joshua 10:33; 12:12) It formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of Ephraim, between the lower Beth-horon and the Mediterranean, (Joshua 16:3) the western limit of the tribe (1Chronicles 7:28) It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites, (Joshua 21:21; 1Chronicles 6:67) but the original inhabitants were not dispossessed, (Judges 1:29) and even down to the reign of Solomon the Canaanites were still dwelling there, and paying tribute to Israel (1Kings 9:16) It was burned by Pharaoh in Solomon’s time, (1Kings 9:15-17) and given to Solomon’s Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him.
