Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A precipice, an ancient royal Canaanitish city (Josh. 10:33; 12:12). It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites (21:21; 1 Chr. 6:67). It stood between the lower Beth-horon and the sea (Josh. 16:3; 1 Kings 9:17). It was the last point to which David pursued the Philistines (2 Sam. 5:25; 1 Chr. 14:16) after the battle of Baal-perazim. The Canaanites retained possession of it till the time of Solomon, when the king of Egypt took it and gave it to Solomon as a part of the dowry of the Egyptian princess whom he married (1 Kings 9:15-17).
It is identified with Tell el-Jezer, about 10 miles south-west of Beth-horon. It is mentioned in the Amarna tablets.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(a precipice), an ancient city of Canaan, whose king, Hiram or Elam, coming to the assistance of Lachish, was killed with all his people by Joshua.
(Joshua 10:33; 12:12) It formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of Ephraim, between the lower Beth-horon and the Mediterranean, (Joshua 16:3) the western limit of the tribe (1 Chronicles 7:28) It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites, (Joshua 21:21; 1 Chronicles 6:67) but the original inhabitants were not dispossessed, (Judges 1:29) and even down to the reign of Solomon the Canaanites were still dwelling there, and paying tribute to Israel (1 Kings 9:16) It was burned by Pharaoh in Solomon’s time, (1 Kings 9:15-17) and given to Solomon’s Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Josh 10:33; Josh 12:12. Gezer was in Benjamin; given to Kohath, Josh 21:21; 1 Chr 6:67; noticed in the wars of David, 1 Sam 27:8; 2 Sam 5:25; 1 Chr 20:4; burned by Pharaoh in Solomon's days, 1 Kgs 9:15-17; given to Solomon's Egyptian wife, and rebuilt by him; was an important city in the time of the Maccabees. M. Ganneau, from a hint given by an old Arab chronicler, has identified Gezer with Tell el-Jezer, 4 miles from Nicopolis.
Numerous ruins were found, indicating a city of importance, and inscriptions in Greek and square Hebrew characters giving the name and noting the boundaries of the Levitical city — a discovery of great importance, being the only one of its kind as yet brought to light.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
dividing, sentence