1 Samuel 13:3

The garrison. Heb. nesib, “pillar,” “prefect,” “deputy,” “garrison,” or “post.” Commentators have generally felt that the meaning “prefect,” or “governor,” should be understood here as being more in harmony with the context (but see PP 616). In Gen. 19:26 nesib is rendered “pillar,” and in 1 Kings 4:19 and 2 Chron. 8:10 as “officer” or “officers.”

Geba. About 4 mi. (6.4 km.) northeast of this Gibeah is Wadi Medineh, a great crack in the surface of the earth, hardly noticeable even a short distance from the brink. Its sides rise as impassable precipices, hundreds of feet in height. On the southwest side of the wadi is Geba, and 1 3/4 mi. (2.8 km.) to the northeast across this wadi lies the town of Michmash, on a tableland some 700 ft. (213.4 m.) lower than the district around Gibeah (Tell el-Ful). The land to the east of Michmash slopes gently for some distance, making good farming land, and there is a clear view of the approach from Jericho. Bethel is about 6 mi. (9.6 km.) north of Gibeah and more than 100 ft. (30.5 m.) higher than Gibeah.

Michmash would command the main road from Jericho and the Jordan valley to Bethel, and the chief highway running north from Jerusalem to Shechem. Saul posted his son Jonathan and a third of the armed soldiery at Gibeah, while, with two thirds of the company, he guarded the approach to Bethel and Gibeah from the east. This would be the most likely road the Ammonites would take should they seek to avenge themselves on Saul for his victory at Jabesh-gilead. He did not anticipate trouble from the west, for there was peace with the Philistines (ch. 7:13).