Isaiah 10:29

WEB

They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.

KJV

They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

Commentary

They are gone over the passage,.... Or "from the passage" (b); not of Jordan, as the Targum; but rather of Michmash, Sa1 13:23 this to be understood of the king of Assyria with his army: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; or "Geba was their lodging"; that is, for a night only; not that they continued here for any time, as our ver sion seems to suggest. This was a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 21:17 called Geba of Benjamin, Kg1 15:22 . Ramah is afraid; the inhabitants of it, as the Targum, at the report of the march of the king of Assyria and his army, and their being near to them. Ramah was in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25 it is mentioned with Gibeah in Hos 5:8 upon which place Jerom says it was seven miles from Jerusalem; but elsewhere (c) he says it was but six, and was to the north against Bethel. See Jdg 19:13 . Gibeah of Saul is fled; that is, the inhabitants of it fled, upon hearing the king of Assyria with his army was coming that way. This was also a city of Benjamin, and is called Gibeah of Benjamin, Sa1 13:2 and Gibeah of Saul, Sa1 11:4 as here; either because he was born there, as Jerom (d) affirms; and certain it is, that he was of the tribe of Benjamin; or because he built it, or at least a palace in it to dwell in, as Kimchi thinks; and it is plain he dwelt here, for it is called his home, Sa1 10:26 the name of the place with Josephus (e) is Gabathsaoula, which he makes to be thirty furlongs or four miles from Jerusalem, and says it signifies "Saul's hill", and that it was situated in a place called the Valley of Thorns. (b) "a transitu". (c) De locis Hebraicis, fol. 94. B. (d) Comment. in Hos. v. 8. (e) De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 2. sect. 1.