Few places in the Holy Land fill so large a space in the inspired volume as Gibeah. Coming from Bethlehem on his way to Mount Ephraim, the unfortunate Levite at nightfall turned in hither, and was received into the house of a peasant. That night was committed an offense by the young men of the city, which resulted in one of the most terrible battles on record. To punish the offenders and avenge the insult, around this hill all Israel gathered for battle against the Benjamites, and, though the former were repeatedly repulsed, they at length triumphed and well-nigh exterminated the tribe of Benjamin.[436] Three centuries later, after the death of all the actors in that mournful tragedy, Gibeah rose to royal significance. Here resided Kish, unto whom was born Saul, than whom “there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.”[437] From here his father sent Saul to recover the strayed asses, and, while looking for the asses, he found a kingdom. Returning from Rameh after his coronation, he chose Gibeah as the seat of his new government.[438] From this first royal city in Palestine he went forth to fight his first battle, which was against the Ammonites, who had besieged Jabesh-gilead.[439] After his rejection by Samuel at Gilgal, hither Saul returned in disgrace;[440] and it was here, in those dark days of disappointment which followed, that an evil spirit came upon him, and, to soothe his troubled soul by the soft music of his harp, the shepherd-boy of Bethlehem was summoned to the king’s presence.[441] Here the high-minded Jonathan conceived his more than woman’s love for the son of Jesse.[442] Forgetting earlier attachments and David’s well-earned renown, here, in a fit of passion, Saul threw his javelin at the youthful warrior.[442] Here he gave his daughter Michal in marriage to David;[442] and here the true-hearted wife rescued her persecuted husband from the murderous hand of her father, and deceived the king by placing an image in her bed.[443] Here the unwilling Michal was given to Phalti,[444] and from Gibeah Saul and his sons went forth to the fatal battle of Gilboa.[445]