What is…
Gilboa

also known as: Mount Gilboa, Mountains of Gilboa (2 Samuel 1:21)

Hebrew: הַר הַגִּלְבֹּעַ

Meaning: boiling spring

This is a mountain range memorable as the scene of King Saul’s disastrous defeat by the Philistines. It is in northern Israel and peaks at 1,627 feet (496 meters) above sea level.

Mount Gilboa—satellite view

Here also King Saul’s 3 sons (Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua) were slain, and he himself died by suicide (1 Samuel 28:4; 31:1-8; 2 Samuel 1:6-21; 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:1, 8).

Gilboa is mentioned by name in the following 8 verses: 1 Samuel 28:4; 31:1, 8; 2 Samuel 1:6; 1:21; 21:12; 1 Chronicles 10:1, 8.

This is a low barren range of mountains bounding the valley of Esdraelon (aka Valley of Jezreel, Megiddo Valley) on the east, between it and the Jordan River valley.

When the news of this defeat was reported to David, he uttered the sad words in the “Song of the Bow” (2 Samuel 1:19-27 LSB).

Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places
How have the mighty fallen
…O mountains of Gilboa,
Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul…
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not separated;
O daughters of Israel, weep…
Jonathan is slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
How have the mighty fallen…

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Article Version: December 29, 2025