Gedor

GEDOR (gē'dôr, Heb. gedhôr, wall)

A city in the hill country of Judah (Josh.15.58); now Khirbet Jedur, a few miles north of Hebron.The town where Jeroham lived, whose sons were among the Benjamites who came to David at Ziklag (1Chr.12.7); location unknown.A descendant of Benjamin who lived at Gibeon with his father Jehiel and brothers (1Chr.8.31; 1Chr.9.37).Among the descendants of Judah, Penuel (1Chr.4.4) and Jered (1Chr.4.18) are both named as the “father” of Gedor. The genealogical tables are different, indicating two persons named Gedor.In the time of Hezekiah, princes of Simeon went to Gedor to find pasture for their flocks; and finding it good, they drove out the inhabitants and settled there (1Chr.4.38-1Chr.4.41).

2. Another place in Judah, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:18. Possibly the same as (1) or (3).

3. A town of Benjamin and the home of Joelah and Zebadiah (1 Chron 12:7) who with others joined David at Ziklag. It is possible to identify this site with (1) above making Jered its founder (cf. 1 Chron 4:4, 18). It may be identified with Khirbet Gadeirah, N of El Jib.

4. A site mentioned twice in Judah’s genealogy (1 Chron 4:4, 18) near Soco and Zonoah. The location is unknown.

5. A city S of the hills of Judah (1 Chron 4:39). It is described as a land very broad, quiet, and peaceful, formerly belonging to Ham. The settlers here were Simeonites.

6. The son of Jeiel of Gibeon, a Benjaminite and an ancestor of Saul (1 Chron 8:31; 9:37).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

(gedhor; Codex Vaticanus, Geddor, Codex Alexandrinus, Gedor):

(1) A town in the mountains of Judah, named with Halhul and Beth-zur (Jos 15:58). It seems to be referred to by Eusebius as Gadeira (Onomasticon, under the word), which he identifies with Gaidora (Jerome calls it Gadora), a village in the borders of Jerusalem, near the terebinth. It is probably represented today by Khirbet Jedur, about 7 miles North of Hebron (PEF, III, 313, Sh XXI).

(2) Among the Benjamites who joined David at Ziklag were the sons of Jeroham of Gedor (1Ch 12:7). No trace of this name is found in the territory of Benjamin. It may be identical with (1).

(3) The Simeonites are said to have gone to the entering in of Gedor in search of pasture for their flocks. They smote and expelled the Meunim, "and dwelt in their stead" (1Ch 4:39 ). Here the Septuagint reads Gerar, and this is probably correct.

(4) A family in Judah (1Ch 4:4).

(5) An ancestor of Saul (1Ch 8:31).