Geba
Geba is a town in the territory of Benjamin, often mentioned in the context of the northern boundary of the Kingdom of Judah. It is located approximately six miles north of Jerusalem. Geba is significant in biblical history as a Levitical city (Joshua 21:17) and a military outpost during the reign of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 13:3, Jonathan, Saul's son, attacked the Philistine garrison stationed at Geba, which led to a larger conflict between Israel and the Philistines. The town is also noted in the context of King Asa's reforms, where he used stones from Geba to fortify Mizpah (1 Kings 15:22).

Beersheba
Beersheba is a city located in the Negev desert, marking the southern boundary of ancient Israel. It is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a significant patriarchal site. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had important encounters with God in Beersheba. In Genesis 21:31, Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech, king of Gerar, at Beersheba, which means "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven." Isaac built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD (Genesis 26:23-25). Beersheba is also the place where Jacob offered sacrifices to God before descending to Egypt (Genesis 46:1).

From Geba to Beersheba
The phrase "from Geba to Beersheba" is used in the Bible to describe the extent of the land of Israel, particularly during the united monarchy and the divided kingdom periods. It signifies the northern to southern boundaries of the Kingdom of Judah. In 2 Kings 23:8, during King Josiah's religious reforms, the phrase is used to describe the extent of his efforts to remove idolatrous practices: "Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and defiled the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense."

The phrase also appears in the context of the census conducted by King David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 24:2, where Joab is instructed to "Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number." Although this passage uses "Dan to Beersheba," it similarly conveys the idea of the entire land of Israel, with Dan marking the northernmost point and Beersheba the southernmost.

Significance
The expression "from Geba to Beersheba" serves as a geographical shorthand for the land of Judah, emphasizing the unity and extent of the territory under the rule of the Davidic kings. It highlights the historical and spiritual significance of these locations in the narrative of Israel's history. The use of this phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of reforms, census, or other national activities, indicating that they affected the entire land from north to south.