Geographical Location:
Mount Gilboa is a mountain range located in the northern part of Israel, forming part of the Samarian hills. It is situated to the southeast of the Jezreel Valley and is known for its rugged terrain and significant elevation, which provides a strategic vantage point over the surrounding areas.

Biblical Significance:
Mount Gilboa holds a prominent place in biblical history, primarily due to its association with the tragic end of King Saul and his sons. The mountain is mentioned in several passages of the Old Testament, most notably in the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel.

Historical Events:
The most significant event associated with Mount Gilboa is the battle between the Israelites, led by King Saul, and the Philistines. This battle is detailed in 1 Samuel 31:1-6 : "Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons and killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, 'Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!' But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him. So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day."

This battle marked a turning point in Israel's history, leading to the rise of David as king. The death of Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa is lamented by David in 2 Samuel 1:21 : "O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil."

Theological Themes:
Mount Gilboa serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God. Saul's downfall is often interpreted as a result of his failure to fully obey God's commands, as seen in earlier narratives. The mountain thus symbolizes the tragic end of a king who was once chosen by God but ultimately rejected due to his disobedience and lack of faith.

Cultural and Symbolic References:
In Jewish tradition, Mount Gilboa is often associated with mourning and loss, as reflected in David's lament. The mountain's barrenness, as invoked in David's curse, symbolizes the desolation that follows disobedience and the loss of divine favor.

Modern Relevance:
Today, Mount Gilboa is a site of natural beauty and historical interest. It is a popular destination for hikers and tourists who wish to explore its trails and enjoy panoramic views of the Jezreel Valley. The mountain's biblical associations continue to draw those interested in the rich tapestry of Israel's history and its spiritual heritage.Gilboa

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Gilboa

(a bubbling spring) a mountain range on the eastern side of the plain of Esdraelon, rising over the city of Jezreel. Comp. (1 Samuel 28:4) with 1Sam 29:1 It is mentioned in Scripture only in connection with one event in Israelitish history, the defeat and death of Saul and Jonathan by the Philistines. (1 Samuel 31:11; 2 Samuel 1:6; 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:1,8) Of the identity of Gilboa with the ridge which stretches eastward from the ruins of Jezreel no doubt can be entertained. The village is now called Jelbou .

Gilboa

A mountainous ridge southeast of the Plain of Esdraelon, having on each side a valley connecting the great plain with the Jordan valley. The valley northeast of Gilboa is the proper Jezreel; that on the southwest side separates Gilboa from the hills of Samaria. On the eastern part of Gilboa was the town from which it was named, now Jelbon. In this vicinity Saul, and Jonathan were defeated by the Philistines, and died, 1 Samuel 28:4,25. It is now a dry and barren mountain, 2 Samuel 1:6,21. Endor lay north from Gilboa, and Beth- shean northeast.

Boiling spring, a mountain range, now Jebel Fukua', memorable as the scene of Saul's disastrous defeat by the Philistines. Here also his three sons were slain, and he himself died by his own hand (1 Samuel 28:4; 31:1-8; 2 Samuel 1:6-21; 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:1, 8). It was a low barren range of mountains bounding the valley of Esdraelon (Jezreel) on the east, between it and the Jordan valley. When the tidings of this defeat were conveyed to David, he gave utterance to those pathetic words in the "Song of the Bow" (2 Samuel 1:19-27). GILBOA, MOUNT

gil-bo'-a ([har hagilboa], "Mount of the Gilboa"): Unless we should read "Gilboa" for "Gilead" in Judges 7:3 (see GILEAD, 2) this mountain is mentioned in Scripture only in connection with the last conflict of Saul with the Philistines, and his disastrous defeat (1 Samuel 28:4; 1 Samuel 31:1, 8 2 Samuel 1:6, 21; 2 Samuel 21:12 1 Chronicles 10:1, 8). If Zer`in be identical with Jezreel-a point upon which Professor R.A.S. Macalister has recently cast some doubt-Saul must have occupied the slopes on the Northwest side of the mountain, near "the fountain which is in Jezreel" (1 Samuel 29:1). The Philistines attacked from the plain, and the battle went sore against the men of Israel, who broke and fled; and in the flight Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, sons of Saul, were slain. Rather than be taken by his lifelong foes, Saul fell upon his sword and died (1 Samuel 31:1).

The modern name of the mountain is Jebel Faqu`a. It rises on the eastern edge of the plain of Esdraelon, and, running from Zer`in to the Southeast, it then sweeps southward to join the Samarian uplands. It presents an imposing appearance from the plain, but the highest point, Sheikh Burqan, is not more than 1,696 ft. above sea level. In the higher reaches the range is rugged and barren; but vegetation is plentiful on the lower slopes, especially to the West. The Kishon takes its rise on the mountain. Under the northern cliffs rises `Ain Jalud, possibly identical with HAROD, WELL OF, which see. In Jelbun, a village on the western declivity, there is perhaps an echo of the old name.

W. Ewing

1533. Gilboa -- a mountain in Northern Israel
... Gilboa. 1534 . a mountain in Northern Israel. Transliteration: Gilboa Phonetic
Spelling: (ghil-bo'-ah) Short Definition: Gilboa. ... NASB Word Usage Gilboa (8). ...
/hebrew/1533.htm - 6k

The End of Self-Will
... 'Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before
the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.2. And the Philistines ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of self-will.htm

The Death of Two Brave Warriors
... of the land. Then the Philistines came and camped in Shunem, and Saul gathered
all the Israelites and camped in Gilboa. But when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the death of two brave.htm

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... They met beside a great spring on Mount Gilboa, called "the fountain of Harod."
Mount Gilboa is one of the three mountains on the east of the plain of Esdraelon ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

The Bright Dawn of a Reign
... He had, at Achish's request, accompanied him with his contingent, in the invasion
of Israel, which crushed Saul's house at Gilboa; but jealousy on the part of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the bright dawn of a.htm

The King.
... throne. The heavy cloud which had brooded so long over the doomed king broke
in lightning crash on the disastrous field of Gilboa. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
... How many are like Gideon's dry fleece, and like the mountains of Gilboa! There is
no dew upon them. Did Christ bleed for sin, and can you not weep? ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/7 sundry sharp reproofs.htm

The Kingdom of all Israel.
... The Philistines overran the country, and chased Saul even to the mountain fastnesses
of Gilboa, where the miserable man, deserted by God, tried to learn his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vi the kingdom of.htm

Samuel
... Philistine king of Gath. At the decisive battle between Israel and the
Philistines on Gilboa, Saul perishes. Soon afterwards, David ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/samuel.htm

David's Lament
... Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Neither fields of
offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/v davids lament.htm

The History of David
... And he answered it was so by adventure that I came upon the mount of Gilboa, and
Saul rested upon his spear, and the horsemen and the chariots of the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

Gilboa (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GILBOA, MOUNT. gil-bo'-a ... name. W. Ewing.
Multi-Version Concordance Gilboa (8 Occurrences). 1 Samuel ...
/g/gilboa.htm - 12k

Gilbo'a (8 Occurrences)
Gilbo'a. Gilboa, Gilbo'a. Gilded . Multi-Version Concordance Gilbo'a
(8 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 28:4 And the Philistines gathered ...
/g/gilbo'a.htm - 8k

Esdraelon
... Tabor it branches out into three valleys, that on the north passing between Tabor
and Little Hermon (Judges 4:14); that on the south between Mount Gilboa and En ...
/e/esdraelon.htm - 15k

Shunem (3 Occurrences)
... Two resting-places, a little village in the tribe of Issachar, to the north of Jezreel
and south of Mount Gilboa (Joshua 19:18), where the Philistines encamped ...
/s/shunem.htm - 10k

Jezreel (37 Occurrences)
... It has been identified with the modern Zerin, on the most western point of the range
of Gilboa, reaching down into the great and fertile valley of Jezreel, to ...
/j/jezreel.htm - 27k

En-dor (3 Occurrences)
... Here dwelt the woman who had a familiar spirit, whom Saul consulted on the night
before the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:7). Here also, according to Psalm 83 ...
/e/en-dor.htm - 11k

Endor (3 Occurrences)
... Here dwelt the woman who had a familiar spirit, whom Saul consulted on the night
before the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:7). Here also, according to Psalm 83 ...
/e/endor.htm - 12k

Plain (113 Occurrences)
... emeq in Judges 5:15, which properly denotes "a depression," or "deepening," and
is used more commonly of the vale running eastward between Gilboa and Little ...
/p/plain.htm - 71k

Wounded (114 Occurrences)
... Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel: and the men of Israel
went in flight before the Philistines, falling down wounded in Mount Gilboa...
/w/wounded.htm - 37k

Kishon (6 Occurrences)
... Winding, a winter torrent of Central Palestine, which rises about the roots of Tabor
and Gilboa, and passing in a northerly direction through the plains of ...
/k/kishon.htm - 12k

Why are there contradictory accounts regarding the death of Saul in 1 and 2 Samuel? | GotQuestions.org

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