Lexical Summary Gibathi: Gibeathite Original Word: גִּבְעָתִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gibeathite Patrial from Gib'ah; a Gibathite, or inhabitant of Gibath -- Gibeathite. see HEBREW Gib'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Gibah Definition an inhab. of Gibath (or Gibeah) NASB Translation Gibeathite (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גִּבְעָתִי adjective, of a people of גִּבְעָה of Benjamin (?) 1 Chronicles 12:3. Topical Lexicon Geographical Background Gibeah, the home of the “Gibeathite,” lay within the tribal allotment of Benjamin, roughly three miles north of Jerusalem. It is remembered as the former royal residence of King Saul (1 Samuel 15:34) and a strategic high point guarding the approach to the capital. Its elevated location supplied both military advantage and cultural prominence to its citizens. Biblical Occurrence 1 Chronicles 12:3 records the term גִּבְעָתִי (Gibeathite) in reference to Shemaah and his sons: “The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Berakah; and Jehu from Anathoth”. Historical Context The chapter chronicles the mighty men who rallied to David during his wilderness years and at Ziklag. Strikingly, several of these warriors were Benjamites—kinsmen of Saul—who risked being branded traitors to support the one whom Saul pursued. The appearance of Gibeathites among David’s earliest allies demonstrates a remarkable softening of inter-tribal hostilities and foreshadows the unification of Israel under Davidic rule (2 Samuel 5:1–3). Military Contribution to David Benjamite warriors were famed for their ambidextrous skill with sling and bow (Judges 20:15–16; 1 Chronicles 12:2). Ahiezer and Joash, sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, would have brought the same expertise. Their presence among the Thirty—elite combatants whose exploits steadied David’s rise—underscored the caliber of David’s forces and the divine favor guiding his ascent (1 Chronicles 11:10). Theological and Ministry Insights 1. Reconciliation of Tribes: The enlistment of men from Saul’s hometown highlights God’s power to reconcile erstwhile rivals for a greater redemptive purpose. Lessons for Contemporary Believers • Geographic or tribal heritage never limits God’s capacity to enlist people in His service. Related Passages and Themes Judges 19–21 (Gibeah’s dark past contrasted with later redemption), 1 Samuel 22:1–2 (David’s gathering of outcasts), Psalm 133:1 (blessing of brethren dwelling in unity). Summary Though גִּבְעָתִי appears only once, it carries weighty implications: men from Saul’s own territory embraced David’s kingdom, showcasing divine reconciliation and foreshadowing the inclusive, unified people of God under the future Messianic King. Forms and Transliterations הַגִּבְעָתִ֔י הגבעתי hag·giḇ·‘ā·ṯî haggiḇ‘āṯî haggivaTiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 12:3 HEB: בְּנֵי֙ הַשְּׁמָעָ֣ה הַגִּבְעָתִ֔י [וִיזוּאֵל כ] NAS: of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel KJV: of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, INT: the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite Jeziel and Pelet 1 Occurrence |
    |