a precipice, an ancient royal Canaanitish city ( Joshua 10:33 ; 12:12 ). It was allotted with its suburbs to the Kohathite Levites ( 21:21 ; 1 Chronicles 6:67 ). It stood between the lower Beth-horon and the sea ( Joshua 16:3 ; 1 Kings 9:17 ). It was the last point to which David pursued the Philistines ( 2 Samuel 5:25 ; 1 Chronicles 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.

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.