GIBBETHON gĭb’ bə thŏn (גִּבְּתֹ֖ון mound, height, ridge). A Philistine city assigned to Dan (Josh 19:44) and to the Levites (21:23). It was while Nadab, son of Jeroboam, was besieging Gibbethon that Baasha murdered him and assumed the crown of Israel for himself (1 Kings 15:27). Later, the Israelite army was again trying to wrest Gibbethon from the Philistines when word reached them that Zimri had murdered Baasha’s son, Elah, and proclaimed himself king. On hearing this, the army proclaimed Omri king, and Zimri committed suicide (1 Kings 16:15-20). The city (modern Tell Melat) was an important fortress on the eastern branch of the Way of the Sea, the route used by Thutmose III in his Syrian campaigns, and by Esarhaddon in his attack on Egypt.