
		Gezer Photos Scriptures ref.

Gezer - location profile

Location and Setting

Gezer was located on the northern border of the Shephelah, approximately twenty miles west of Jerusalem. It was strategically situated at the junction of the International Coastal Highway and the highway connecting it with Jerusalem through the valley of Aijalon.
The view from Gezer encompassed the whole Coastal Plain below it, making it a strategic military center for Solomon and others who held the city.
Gezer was also valued for its ample water supply found in nearby natural springs. The surrounding fertile plains were ideal for growing crops such as wheat and barley and provided extensive pastureland for grazing animals.

Historical and Biblical Significance

Although the Israelites defeated the king of Gezer during Joshua’s campaign (Josh 10:33; 12:12), the tribe of Ephraim failed to completely remove the Canaanites from the city after being allotted this area (Josh 16:10; Judg 1:29; 1 Chr 7:28). Canaanites continued to dwell at Gezer even when it was designated a Levitical city (Josh 21:21; 1 Chr 6:67).
King Solomon finally brought Gezer under Israel’s control. The king of Egypt, who had taken possession of the city, gave it to Solomon as part of the dowry in his marriage to the pharaoh’s daughter. Gezer had been destroyed by its Egyptian captors, forcing Solomon to immediately undertake the task of rebuilding and fortifying it (1 Kgs 3:1; 9:15-17).
Gezer became one of Solomon’s three fortified cities (with Megiddo and Hazor), by which he controlled the International Coastal Highway. Almost identical "Solomonic Gates" have been discovered in each of these three cities. (Some archaeologists have recently expressed doubt on the significance of these remains.)

Bibliography

DeVries, LaMoine F. Cities of the Biblical World. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997.
Rainey, A.F. "Gezer" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.