• Gerar, Torrent Valley of
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • corresponds to the Wadi esh-Shariʽah, running just S of Tell Abu Hureirah (the probable site of ancient Gerar). The general area around the torrent valley of Gerar was ideal for pastoral life. Apparently water could readily be found by digging pits in the torrent bed. (Gen. 26:17-19) The patriarch Abraham resided temporarily as an alien in this region. (Gen. 20:1, 2) Later, in a time of famine, Isaac returned to the area. Here he engaged in agriculture and raised flocks and herds. (Gen. 26:1, 6, 12-14) In the torrent valley itself Isaac’s servants dug two wells that provoked quarrels with the covetous shepherds of Gerar.—Gen. 26:17-22.

  • Gerasenes
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GERASENES

      (Gerʹa·senes).

      In the “country of the Gerasenes,” of which at least a portion lay E of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus Christ healed two demon possessed men. (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39; compare Matthew 8:28-34.) The exact limits of this region are today unknown, and the identification is uncertain. Some scholars would link the “country of the Gerasenes” with the area around Khersa on the E shore of the Sea of Galilee. Others suggest that the designation may apply to the large district radiating from the city of Gerasa (Jerash).—See GADARENES.

  • Gerizim, Mount
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GERIZIM, MOUNT

      Mount Gerizim, now known as Jebel et-Tor, together with Mount Ebal to the NE, is situated in the heart of the district of Samaria. Standing opposite each other, these mountains are the most eminent ones of the region and guard a significant E-W pass. Between the two mountains is a fertile valley, the Vale of Shechem, in which modern Nablus is situated. Shechem, a strong and important city of Canaan before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, stood at the eastern end of the valley, about one and a half miles (c. 2.4 kilometers) SE of Nablus. The strategic location of Mounts Gerizim and Ebal gave them military and political significance, the area also being one of religious importance.

      Mount Gerizim’s summit rises over 2,800 feet (c. 853 meters) above the Mediterranean Sea. Though somewhat more than 200 feet (c. 61 meters) lower than Mount Ebal, Gerizim offers an excellent view of surrounding territory. From it one can see to the N the snowy peak of Mount Hermon, to the E the fertile valley of the Jordan, to the S the mountains in the territory of Ephraim and to the W the Plain of Sharon and the blue Mediterranean.

      Abram (Abraham) once camped “near the big trees of Moreh” between Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, and there received Jehovah’s promise: “To your seed I am going to give this land.” (Gen. 12:6, 7) Jacob also camped in this vicinity.—Gen. 33:18.

      In harmony with instructions given by Moses, the tribes of Israel assembled at Mounts Gerizim and Ebal under Joshua’s direction shortly after their conquest of Ai. There the people heard the reading of the blessings they would receive if they obeyed Jehovah, and the maledictions that awaited them if they disobeyed him. The tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin stood in front of Mount Gerizim. The Levites and the ark of the covenant were situated in the valley, and the other six tribes stood in front of Mount Ebal. (Deut. 11:29, 30; 27:11-13; Josh. 8:28-35) Apparently, the tribes stationed in front of Mount Gerizim responded to the blessings read in their direction, whereas the other tribes responded to the curses read in the direction of Mount Ebal. While it has been suggested that the blessings were read toward Mount Gerizim because of its greater beauty and fertility in contrast with rocky, largely barren Mount Ebal, the Bible does not furnish any information on this matter. The Law was read aloud “in front of all the congregation of Israel, together with the women and the little ones and the alien residents who walked in their midst.” (Josh. 8:35) This vast throng could hear the words from positions in front of either mountain, probably due, at least in part, to the excellent acoustics of the area.—See EBAL, MOUNT.

      In the days of Israel’s judges, Gideon’s son Jotham addressed the landowners of Shechem while standing “on the top of Mount Gerizim.” (Judg. 9:7) Even today a ledge about halfway up the mountain is called “Jotham’s pulpit,” but it is merely a traditional site.

      A Samaritan temple rivaling the one in Jerusalem was constructed on Mount Gerizim about 432 B.C.E. and was destroyed about 110 B.C.E. According to tradition, it was built by Sanballat and desolated by John Hyrcanus. (See Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews, Book XI, chap. VIII, pars. 2, 4; Book XIII, chap. IX, par. 1; Wars of the Jews, Book I, chap. II, par. 6) Even up to modern times the Samaritans have celebrated festivals such as the Passover on Mount Gerizim, at what they believe to be the site of the ancient temple. It was evidently with reference to Mount Gerizim that the Samaritan woman told Jesus Christ: “Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain; but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where persons ought to worship.”—John 4:5, 19, 20.

      As depicted on ancient coins discovered at Nablus, a temple of Jupiter having a 300-step approach once stood on Mount Gerizim. A church was built on the mountain in the fifth century C.E. and another was constructed by the Byzantine emperor Justinian. Ruins suggested as being of Justinian’s time are now found on the summit.

      [Picture on page 647]

      Mount Gerizim (left) and Mount Ebal separated by the Vale of Shechem

  • Gershonites
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GERSHONITES

      (Gerʹshon·ites).

      The descendants of Gershon, or Gershom, the first named of the three sons of Levi, through his two sons Libni and Shimei. (1 Chron. 6:1, 16, 17) The Gershonites constituted one of the three great divisions of the Levites. At the first census in the wilderness they numbered 7,500 males from a month old and upward. Those from thirty to fifty years of age who served at the tabernacle numbered 2,630 males. (Num. 3:21, 22; 4:38-41) The service of the Gershonites in the wilderness included caring for the tent cloths of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting, the screen of the entrance of the tent of meeting, the hangings of the courtyard and the screen of the courtyard entrance. (Num. 3:23-26; 4:21-28) In the camp in the wilderness their place was on the W side of the tabernacle. Behind them, at a distance from the tabernacle, camped the three-tribe division of Ephraim. (Num. 3:23; 2:18) When the chieftains of Israel presented six covered wagons and twelve bulls for tabernacle service, Moses gave two wagons and four bulls to the sons of Gershon. (Num. 7:1-7) When moving camp the Gershonites marched with the Merarites between the leading three-tribe divisions of Judah and the three-tribe division of Reuben.—Num. 10:14-20.

      The Gershonites were allotted thirteen cities with pasture grounds in the territories of Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali. Kedesh, in Galilee, and Golan, in Bashan, allotted to them, were two of the nation’s six cities of refuge. (Josh. 21:27-33) When David reorganized the Levites, special singing, treasury and other duties were given to some of the Gershonites. (1 Chron. 6:31, 32, 39-43; 23:4-11; 26:21, 22) Gershonites were among the Levites who engaged in the work of cleansing the temple in the days of King Hezekiah.—2 Chron. 29:12-17.

  • Geshem
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GESHEM

      (Geʹshem) [rain].

      An Arabian, who, along with Sanballat and Tobiah, opposed Nehemiah in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. These enemies first derided Nehemiah and his co-workers. (Neh. 2:19) Then they conspired and plotted against Nehemiah, to no avail. (Neh. 6:1-4) Finally these opposers sent a letter to Nehemiah quoting Geshem’s accusation that Nehemiah and the Jews were scheming to rebel and that he was becoming a king to them. In this, too, these enemies failed. (Neh. 6:5-7) Their quoting of Geshem in the letter seems to indicate that he was a man of influence. It may be noted that relations between the Persian court and the Arab tribes were reportedly good following Persia’s invasion of Egypt.

      A dialect form of Geshem, the name Jasm, is mentioned in an inscription found in ancient Dedan, in the northern part of Arabia. The name Geshem appears in an Aramaic inscription on a silver bowl found in Egypt. The text reads: “What Qaynu son of Geshem, king of Kedar, brought (as offering) to (the goddess) Han-ʼIlat.”

  • Geshur
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GESHUR

      (Geshʹur) [bridge].

      1. An Aramaean kingdom bordering on the Argob region of Bashan E of the Jordan River. Its northerly neighbor was Maacath. Although Israel’s early conquests extended as far as Geshur, the region itself was not taken. (Deut. 3:14; Josh. 12:1, 4, 5; 13:13) It was to Geshur, the realm of his maternal grandfather Talmai, that Absalom fled after murdering his half-brother Amnon. There he continued in banishment for three years, until brought back to Jerusalem by Joab. (2 Sam. 3:2, 3; 13:28-38; 14:23; 15:8) At a later period Geshur and Syria annexed many Israelite cities E of the Jordan.—1 Chron. 2:23.

      2. Domain of the Geshurites in southern Palestine, near Philistine territory. (Josh. 13:2; 1 Sam. 27:7-11) With reference to this area the form “Geshur” is not specifically employed.

  • Gethsemane
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GETHSEMANE

      (Geth·semʹa·ne) [an oil press].

      Probably a garden of olive trees that was equipped with a press for squeezing oil from olives. Gethsemane was located E of Jerusalem, across the Kidron valley (John 18:1), on or near the Mount of Olives. (Luke 22:39) Here Jesus Christ often met with his disciples. (John 18:2) On Passover night of 33 C.E., he, with his faithful disciples, retired to this garden to pray. Found and betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus was there seized by an armed mob.—Matt. 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-12.

      The exact location of the garden of Gethsemane cannot be determined, because (according to the testimony of Josephus) all the trees around Jerusalem were cut down during the Roman siege in 70 C.E. (Wars of the Jews, Book V, chap. XII, par. 4) One tradition identifies Gethsemane with the garden that was enclosed by the Franciscans in 1848. It measures about 150 by 140 feet (46 by 43 meters) and is located at the fork of the road on the W slope and at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Eight olive trees in this garden have been there for centuries.

      [Picture on page 649]

      Traditional location of the garden of Gethsemane, with the Golden Gate and a portion of the Dome of the Rock visible across the Kidron Valley