Gibeon

Gibeon was the chief city; so called from Gabah, an hill. The Gibeonites form a very interesting subject in the Scripture history, and lead to an enquiry not less interesting. They were descendants, it is probable, from the Hivites; that is, of the nations of Canaan whom the Lord would drive out before Israel. And yet we find the fear of God was upon them, so as to act wisely to get interest with Israel. (See their history, Josh. ix. 3. throughout.) And we find in their farther history, (2 Sam. xxi. 1 - 6.) that the Lord took part with themwhen Saul would have destroyed them, and even sent a judgment upon Israel on their account. Were the Gibeonites in those instances a type of the salvation of the Gentile church, brought in by sovereign grace into the privileges of Christ Jesus? Was this nation set apart in those early ages of the church, by way of shewing Christ’s interest in his people, in being a light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his people Israel?" I do not decide upon the subject; I only ask the interesting question. (See Isa. xlix. 6.)

the capital city of the Gibeonites, who took advantage of the oaths of Joshua, and of the elders of Israel, procured by an artful representation of their belonging to a very remote country, Joshua 9. Joshua and the elders had not the precaution to consult God on this affair, but inconsiderately made a league with these people. They soon discovered their mistake, and, without revoking their promise of saving their lives, they condemned them to labour in carrying wood and water for the tabernacle; and to other works, as slaves and captives; in which state of servitude they remained, till the entire dispersion of the Jewish nation, A.M. 2553; B.C. 1451. Three days after the Gibeonites had surrendered to the Hebrews, the kings of Canaan being informed of it, five of them came and besieged the city of Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent to Joshua, and desired speedy help. Joshua attacked the five kings early in the morning, put them to flight, and pursued them to Bethoron, Jos 10:3, &c. The Gibeonites were descended from the Hivites, the old inhabitants of the country, and possessed four cities: Cephirah, Beeroth, Kirjath-jearim, and Gibeon, their capital; all afterward given to Benjamin, except Kirjath- jearim, which fell to Judah. The Gibeonites continued subject to those burdens which Joshua imposed on them, and were very faithful to the Israelites. Nevertheless, Saul destroyed a great number of them, 2Sa 21:1; but God, in the reign of David, sent a great famine, which lasted three years, A.M. 2983; B.C. 1021; and the prophets told David that this calamity would continue while Saul’s cruelty remained un-avenged. David asked the Gibeonites what satisfaction they desired. They answered, “Seven of Saul’s sons we will put to death, to avenge the blood of our brethren.” The Gibeonites crucified them. From this time there is no mention of the Gibeonites as a distinct people. But they were probably included among the Nethinim, appointed for the service of the temple, 1Ch 9:2. Afterward, those of the Canaanites who were subdued, and had their lives spared, were added to the Gibeonites. We see in Ezr 8:20; Ezr 2:58; 1Ki 9:20-21, that David, Solomon, and the princes of Judah, gave many such to the Lord; these Nethinim being carried into captivity with Judah and the Levites, many of them returned with Ezra, Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah, and continued, as before, in the service of the temple, under the priests and Levites. We neither know when, nor by whom, nor on what occasion, the tabernacle and altar of burnt sacrifices, made by Moses in the wilderness, were removed to Gibeon; but this we certainly know, that, toward the end of David’s reign, and in the beginning of Solomon’s, they were there,

1Ch 21:29-30. David, seeing an angel of the Lord at Araunah’s threshing floor, was so terrified that he had not time or strength to go so far as Gibeon to offer sacrifice; but Solomon, being seated on the throne, went to sacrifice at Gibeon, 1Ki 3:4.

Gib´eon, a town celebrated in the Old Testament, but not mentioned in the New. It was ’a great city,’ as one of the royal cities; and to its jurisdiction originally belonged Beeroth, Chephirah, and Kirjath-jearim (Jos 9:17; Jos 10:2). It is first mentioned in connection with the deception practiced by the inhabitants upon Joshua, by which, although Canaanites (Hivites), they induced the Jewish leader not only to make a league with them, and to spare their lives and cities, but also, in their defense, to make war upon the five kings by whom they were besieged. It was in the great battle which followed, that ’the sun stood still upon Gibeon’ (Jos 10:12; Jos 10:1-14). The place afterwards fell to the lot of Benjamin, and became a Levitical city (Jos 18:25; Jos 21:17), where the tabernacle was set up for many years under David and Solomon (1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 21:29; 2Ch 1:3), the ark being at the same time at Jerusalem (2Ch 1:4). It was here, as being the place of the altar, that the young Solomon offered a thousand burnt-offerings, and was rewarded by the vision which left him the wisest of men (1Ki 3:4-15; 2Ch 1:3-13). This was the place where Abner’s challenge to Joab brought defeat upon himself, and death upon his brother Ashael (2Sa 2:12-32), and where Amasa was afterwards slain by Joab (2Sa 20:8-12). None of these passages mark the site of Gibeon; but there are indications of it in Josephus, who places it fifty stadia north-west from Jerusalem; and in Jerome: which leave little doubt that Gibeon is to be identified with the place which still bears the name of El-Jib.

El-Jib is a moderately sized village, seated on the summit of a hill, five miles north by west from Jerusalem. The houses stand very irregularly and unevenly, sometimes almost above one another. They seem to be chiefly rooms in old massive ruins, which have fallen down in every direction. One large building still remains, probably a former castle or tower of strength. Towards the east the ridge of the hill sinks a little, and here, a few rods from the village, just below the top of the ridge towards the north, is a fine fountain of water. It is in a cave, excavated in and under the high rock, so as to form a large subterranean reservoir. Not far below it, among olive-trees, are the remains of an open reservoir, about one hundred and twenty feet in length by one hundred in breadth. It was doubtless designed to receive the superfluous waters of the cavern, and there can be little question but that this was ’the Pool of Gibeon’ mentioned in 2Sa 2:13; and, in the whole, we find the ’Great [or many] waters of Gibeon’ of Jer 41:12.

A considerable city of the Hivites, afterwards a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25 21:17. It lay near Geba and Gibeah, and is sometimes wrongly taken for Geba. Its Canaanite inhabitants secured a treaty with Joshua and the elders of Israel by strategem, and were made hewers of wood for the sanctuary. Five neighboring kings unitedly fell upon them; but were defeated by the Jews in a great battle, during which "the sun stood still upon Gibeon," Jos 9:10 . Here the tabernacle was set up for many years, 1Ch 16:39 21:29 2Ch 1:3,4 ; and here god communed by night with young king Solomon, 1Ki 3:4-15 . It is also memorable for two scenes in the life of Joab, 2Sa 2:12-32 20:8-12 Jer 41:12 . It stood on an eminence, six miles north of Jerusalem.\par

Gib’eon. (hill city). One of the four cities of the Hivites, the inhabitants of which made a league with Joshua, Jos 9:3-15, and thus, escaped the fate of Jericho and Ai. Compare Jos 11:19. Gibeon lay within the territory of Benjamin, Jos 18:25, and with its "suburbs," was allotted to the priests, Jos 21:17, of whom it became afterwards, a principal station. It retains its ancient name almost intact, el-Jib. Its distance from Jerusalem by the main road is about 6 1/2 miles; but there is a more direct road reducing it to five miles.

Chief of the four Hivite (in 2 Samuel 21 called by the general name "Amorite") cities which obtained a league from Joshua by guile (Joshua 9). "A great city like one of the royal cities, greater than Ai" (Jos 10:2); "all its men were mighty." Within Benjamin; by the main road. six and a half miles from Jerusalem; allotted to the priests (Jos 21:17). Ninety-five men of Gibeon returned with Zerubbabel, and helped in repairing the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah (Neh 3:7; Neh 7:25). Here the Jews defeated Cestius Gallus and the Romans. Now el Jib, on a rounded chalk hill the limestone strata of which lie horizontally, forming terraces along which olives and vines abound, with a basin of broad valleys and plains below. E. of the hill is a spring and reservoir.

The remains of a tank 120 ft. by 100 ft. are visible still amidst the trees lower down; this was "the pool of Gibeon" where Abner’s and Joab’s men had the encounter ending in Asahel’s death and issuing in Abner’s own murder. At the "great waters of Gibeon" Johanan son of Kareah found the treacherous Ishmael (Jer 41:12). Here were encamped the five kings of the Amorites when Joshua came down on them from Gilgal (Josephus, Ant. 5:1, section 17). The "wilderness (midbar), pasture ground) of Gibeon" lay to the E. (2Sa 2:24.) Here immediately at "the great stone in Gibeon," some old landmark, Joab pursuing the Benjamite rebel Sheba among the towns of his tribe met and treacherously murdered Amasa (2Sa 20:5-10). Retributively it was here also that Joab met his doom from Benaiah while clinging to the brazen altar of the tabernacle at Gibeon (1Ki 2:28-34; 1Ch 16:39-41.)

To "the great high place" (whether Neby Samwil, the highest eminence about, at a mile’s distance, or the twin mount on the S. and close to el Jib) the tabernacle was removed from Nob after Saul’s slaughter of the priests there. David put the brazen altar before the tabernacle (2Ch 1:5) probably at the same time lie removed the ark to Zion and appointed the priests under Zadok to offer the daily sacrifices, and Heman and Jeduthun to direct the music (2Ch 1:3). Here Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings, and God appeared in a dream by night and gave him all and more than he asked (1 Kings 3). Then in a few years the tabernacle was taken down and the holy vessels removed to the temple (1Ki 8:3).

(Heb. Gibon’, גִּבְ וֹן, hill-city; Sept. Γαβαών, Josephus Γαβαώ), one of the four cities of the Hivites, the others being Beeroth (omitted by Josephus, Ant. 5:2, 16), Chephirah, and Kirjath-jearim (Jos 9:17). SEE CANAANITE. Its inhabitants made a league with Joshua (Jos 9:3-15), and thus escaped the fate of Jericho and Ai (Jos 11:19). SEE GIBEONITE. It appears, as might be inferred from its taking the initiative in this matter, to have been the largest of the four — "a great city, like one of the royal cities" — larger than Ai,(Jos 10:2). Its men, too, were all practiced warriors (Gibborim, גּבּרִים). Gibeon lay within the territory of Benjamin (Jos 18:25), and with its "suburbs" was allotted to the priests (Jos 21:17), of whom it afterwards became a principal station, where the tabernacle was set up for many years under David and Solomon (1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 21:29; 2Ch 1:3), the ark being at the same time at Jerusalem (2Ch 1:4). For these and other notices in the historical books of Scripture, see below. From Jer 12:16, we may infer that after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, Gibeon again became the seat of government. It produced prophets in the days of Jeremiah (Jer 28:1). After the captivity we find the "men of Gibeons" returning with Zerubbabel (Neh 7:25: in the list of Ezra the name is altered to GIBBAR), and assisting Nehemiah in the repair of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 3:7). In the post-Biblical times it was the scene of a victory by the Jews over the Roman troops under Censtius Gallus, which offers in many respects a close parallel with that of Joshua over theCanaanites (Josephus, War, 2:19, 7; Stanley, Palest. page 212). In 2Sa 5:25 it would seem to be called GEBA (where the error of the original has been followed by all the versions), as compared with 1Ch 14:16; but it is to be distinguished from both Geba and Gibeah. It is said (2Sa 2:13) that there was a pool in Gibeon. Whether it were of any considerable extent does not appear from this passage; but there is little doubt that it is the same as "the great waters that are in Gibeon" (Jer 12:12). There was also a great stone or rock here (2Sa 20:8), and also the great high place (1Ki 3:4). All this shows that Gibeon was situated on an eminence, as its name imports.

Location. — None of the scriptural passages mark the site of Gibeon; but there are indications of it in Josephus (War, 2:19, 1), who places it 40 (Ant. 7:11, 7) or 50 stadia northwest from Jerusalem, and in Jerome (Ep. 86, ad Eustoch.), which leave little doubt that Gibeon is to be identified with the place which still bears the name of El-Jib. The name Gabaon is indeed mentioned by writers of the time of the Crusades, as existing at this spot, and among the Arabs it then already bore the name of El-Jib, under which it is mentioned by Bohaedinn (Vita Saladin, page 243). Afterwards it was overlooked by most travelers till the last century, when the attention of Pococke was again directed to it (Description of the East, 2:49). The traveler who pursues the northern camel-road from Jerusalem, turning off to the left at Tuleil el-ful (Gibeah) on that branch of it which leads westward to Jaffa, finds himself, after crossing one or two stony and barren ridges, in a district of a more open character. The hills are rounder and more isolated than those through which he has been passing, and rise in well-defined mamelons from broad undulating valleys of tolerable extent and fertile soil. This is the central plateau of the country the "land of Benjamin;" and these round hills are the Gibeahs, Gebas, Gibeons, and Ramahs, whose names occur so frequently in the records of this district. Retaining its ancient name almost intact, El-Jib stands on the northernmost of a couple of these mamelons, just at the place where the road to the sea parts into two branches, the one hey the lower level of the wady Suleiman, the other by the heights of the Beth-borons, to Gimzo, Lydda, and Joppa. The road passes at a short distance to the north of the base of the bill of El- Jib.

The strata of the bills in this district lie much more horizontal than those further south. With the bills of Gibeon this is peculiarly the case, and it imparts a remarkable precision to their appearance, especially when viewed from a height such as the neighboring eminence of neby Samwil. The houses stand very irregularly and uneavenly, sometimes almost above one another. They seem to be chiefly rooms in old massive ruins, which have fallen down in every direction. One large building still remains, probably a former castle or tower of strength. The natural terraces are carried round the hill like contour lines; they are all dotted thick with olives and vines, and the ancient-looking houses are scattered over the flattish summit of the mound. On the east side of the bill is a copious spring, which issues in a cave excavated in the-limestone rock, so as to form a large reservoir. In the trees farther, down are the remains of a pool or tenk of considerable size, probably, says Dr. Robinson, 120 feet by 100, i.e., of rather smaller dimensions than the lower pool at Hebron. This is doubtless the "pool of Gibeon," at which Abner and Joab met together with the troops of Ishbosheth and David, and where that sharp, conflict took place which ended in the death of Asahel, and led, at a later period, to the treacherous murder of Abner himself. Here or at the spring were the "great waters (or the many waters, מִיִם רבִּים) of Gibeon" (both here and in 1Ki 3:4, Josephus substitutes Hebron for Gibeon, Ant. 10:9, 5; 8:2, 1), at which Johanan, the son of Kareah, found the traitor Ishmael (Jer 41:12). Round this water also, according to the notice of Josephus (ἐπί τινι πηγ῝ῇ τῆς πόλεως ούκ ἄπωθεν, Ant. 5:1, 17), the five kings of the Amorites were encamped when Joshua burst upon them from Gilgal. The "wilderness of Gibeon" (2Sa 2:24) — the Midbar, i.e., rather the waste pasture-grounds must have been to the east, beyond the suburb of cultivated fields, and towards the neighboring swells, which bear the names of Jedireh and Bir Neballah. Such is the situation of Gibeon, fulfilling in position ever-y requirement of the notices of the Bible, Josephus, Eusebius, and Jerome. Its distance from Jerusalem by the main road is as nearly as possible 61 miles; but there is a more direct road reducing it to 5 miles (Robinson, Res. 2:137, 138; Van de Velde, Memoir, page 315; Thomson, Land and Book, 2:546; Porter, Handb. for Syria, page 225).

Scriptural Incidents. — Several of these are of such deep interest as to call for a detailed notice.

(1.) The name of Gibeon is most familiar to us in connection with the artifice by which its inhabitants obtained their safety at the hands of Joshua, and with the memorable battle which ultimately resulted therefrom. (See Kitto’s Daily Bible Illust,. ad loc.) This is the first mention of the place in Scripture, and the battle is considered "one of the most important in the history of the world" by Stanley, whose graphic description (Jewish Church, 1:266 sq.) we condense, slightly modified and illustrated.

The kings of Palestine, each in his little fastness, were roused icy the tidings that the approaches to their territory in the Jordan valley and in the passes leading from it were in the hands of the enemy. Those who occupied the south felt that the crisis was yet more imminent than when they heard of the capitulation of Gibeon. Jebus or Jerusalem, even in those ancient times, was recognized as their center. Its chief took the lead of the hostile confederacy. The point of attack, however, was not the invading army, but the traitors at home. Gibeon, the recreant city, was besieged. The continuance or the raising of the siege became the turning question of the war. The sermons of the Gibeonites to Joshua was as urgent as words can describe, and gives the key-note to the whole movement (Jos 10:6). Not a moment was to be lost. On the former occasion of Joshua’s visit to Gibeon (Jos 9:16-17), it had been a three-days’ journey from Gilgal, as according to the slow pace of eastern armies and caravans it might well be. But now, by a forced march, "Joshua came unto thee suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night." When the sun rose behind him, he was already in the open ground at the foot of the heights of Gibeon, where the kings were encamped (according to Josephus, Ant. 5:1, 17) by a spring in the neighborhood. The towering hill, at the foot of which Gibeon lay; rose before them on the west. The besieged and the besiegers alike were taken by surprise (in the Samaritan version of Joshua, the war cry is given, "God is mighty in battle," Joshua 20, 21).

As often before and after, so now "not a man could stand before" the awe and panic of the sudden sound of that terrible shout. The Canaanites fled down the western pass, and "the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-boron." This was the first stage of the flight. It is a long, rocky ascpnt, sinking and rising more than once before the summit is gained. From the summit, which is crowned by the village of Upper Beth- horon, a wide view opens over the valley of Ajalon, which runs is from the plain of Sharon.

"And it came to pass as they fled before Israel, asnd were in the going down to, Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them untoAzekah." This was the second stage of the flight. The fugitives had outstripped the pursuers; they had crossed the high ridge of Beth-horon the Upper; they were in full flight to Beth-horon the Nether. It is a rough, rocky road, sometimes over the upturned edges of the limestone stratas, sometimes over sheets of smooth rock, sometimes over loose rectangular stones, sometimes over steps cut in the rock. It was as they fled down this slippery descent that a fearful tempest, "thunder, lightning, and a deluge of hail" (Josephus, Ant. 5:1, 17), broke over the disordered ranks; and "they were more which died of the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword."

Then follows the poetic version of the story, taken from the ancient legendary "Book of Jasher." On the summit of the pass, where is now the hamlet of the Upper Beth-boron, looking far down the deep descent of the western valleys, with the green vale of Ajalon stretched out in the distance, and the wide expanse of the Mediterranean Sea beyond, stood, as is intimated the Israelitish chief. Below him was rushing (town in wild confusion, the Amoritish host, Around him were "all his people of war, and, and his mighty men of valor." Behind him were the hills which hid the now rescued Gibeon from his sight. But the sun stood high, above those bills, "in the midst of heaven" (it was the middle of the forenoon, or at most midday), for the day had now far advanced since he had emerged from his night-march through the passes of Ai; and in his front, over the western vale of Ajalon, may have been the faint crescent of the waning moon, visible above the hail-storm driving up from the sea in the black distance. Was the enemy to escape is safety, or was the speed with which Joshua had "come quickly, and saved and helped" his defenseless allies, to be rewarded, before the close of that day, by a signal victory? It is doubtless so standing on that lofty eminence, with outstretched hand and. spear, that. the hero appears in the ancient record: "Then might Joshua [be heard to] speak to Jehovah in the day of Jehovah’s giving [up] the Amorite before the sons of Israel, when he said in the eyes of Israel:

“Sun, in Gibeon stand still; And, moon, in Ajalon’s vale!"

So the sun stood still, and moon stayed until a people should take vengeance [upon] it enemies. [Is] not this written on the Book of the Upright?

“So the sun stayed in the midst of the heavans,

And hasted not to go [down] as a whole day;

And [there] was not like that day [another] before it or after it.

For Jehovah’s hearkening to a man’s voice,

For Jehovah [it was that] fought for Israel.”

So Joshua returned, and all Israel withe him, to the camp at Gilgal" (Jos 10:12-15). SEE JOSHUA.

(2.) We next hear of Gibeon at the encounter between the men of David and of Ishbosheth, under their respective leaders Joab and Abner (2Sa 2:12-17). The meeting has all the air of having been premeditated by both parties, unless we suppose that Joab had heard of the intention of the Benjamites to revisit from time distant Mahanaim their native villages, and had seized the opportunity to try his strength with Abner. SEE ABNER. The place where the struggle began received a name from the circumstance, and seems to have been bong afterwards known as the "field of the strong men." SEE HELKATH-HAZZURIM.

(3.) We again meet with Gibeon in connection with Joab; this time as the scene of the cruel and revolting death of Amsasa icy his hand (2Sa 20:5-10). Joab was in pursuit of the rebellious Shleba, the son of Bichri, and his being so far out of the direct north road as Gibeon may be accounted for by supposing that he was making a search for this Benjamite among the towns of his tribe. The two rivals met at "the great stone which is in Gibeon" — some old landmark now no longer recognizable, at least not recognized — and then Joab repeated the treachery by which he had murdered Abner, but with circumstances of a still more revolting character. SEE AMASA.

It is remarkable that the retribution for this crowning act of perfidy should have overtaken Joab close to the very spot on which it had been committed. For it was to the tabernacle at Gibeon (1Ki 2:28-29; comp. 1Ch 16:39) that Joab fled for sanctuary when his death was pronounced by Solomon, and it was while clinging to the horns of the brazen altar there that he received his death-blow from Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada (1Ki 2:28; 1Ki 2:30; 1Ki 2:34). SEE JOAB.

(4.) Familiar as these events in connection with the history of Gibeon are to us, its reputation in Israel was due to a very different circumstance — the fact that the tabernacle of the congregation and the brazen altar of burnt- offering were for some time located on the "high place" attached to or near the town. ’We are not informed whether this "high place" had any fame for sanctity before the tabernacle came there; but if not, it would probably have been erected elsewhere. We only hear of it in connection with the tabernacle; nor is there any indication of its situation in regard to the town. Stanley has suggested (Sinai and Pal. page 212) that it was the remarkable hill of neby Samwil, the most prominent and individual eminence in that part of the country, and to which the special appelation of "the great high- place" (1Ki 3:4; הִגְּדוֹלָה הִבָּמָה) would perfectly apply. Certainly, if "great" is to be understood as referring to height or size, there is no other hill which can so justly claim the distinction. But the word has not always that meaning, and may equally imply eminence in other respects, e.g. superior sanctity to the numerous other high places — Bethel, Ranmah, Mizpeh, Gibeah which surrounded it on every side. The main objection to this identification is the distance of neby Samwll from Gibeon more than a mile — and the absence of any closer connection therewith than with any other of the neighboring places. The most natural position for the high place of Gibeon is the twin mount immediately south of El-Jib — so close as to be all but a part of the town, and yet quite separate and distinct. The testimony of Epiphanius, by which Stanley supports his conjecture, viz. that the "Mount of Gabaon" was the highest round Jerusalem (Adv. Haereses, 1:394), should be received with caution, standing as it does quite alone, and belonging to an age which, though early, was marked by ignorance, and by the most improbable conclusions. To this high place, wherever situated, the "tabernacle of the congregation" — the sacred tent which had accompanied the children of Israel through the whole of their wanderings had been transferred from its last station at Nob. The exact date of the transfer is left in uncertainty. It was either before or at the time when David brought up the ark from Kirjath-jearim to the new tent which he had pitched for it on Mount Zion, that the original tent was spread for the last time at Gibeon. The expression in 2Ch 1:5, "The brazen altar he put before the tabernacle of Jehovah," at first sight appears to refer to David. But the text of the passage is disputed, and the authorities are divided between שָׂם" he put," and שָׁם, "was there." Whether king David transferred the tabernacle to Gibeon or not, he certainly appointed the staff of priests to offer the daily sacrifices there on the brazen altar of Moses, and to fulfill the other requirements of the law (1Ch 16:40), with no less a person at their head than Zadok the priest (1Ch 16:39), assisted by the famous musicians Heman and Jeduthun (1Ch 16:41).

One of the earliest acts of Solomon’s reign — it must have been while the remembrance of the execution of Joab was still fresh — was to visit Gibeon. The ceremonial was truly magnificent: he went up with all the congregation, the great officers of the state — the captains of hundreds and thousands, the judges, the governors, and the chief of the fathers — and the sacrifice consisted of a thousand burnt-offerings (1Ki 3:4). This glimpse of Gibeon in all the splendor of its greatest prosperity — the smoke of the thousand animals rising from the venerable altar on the commanding height of "the great high place" — the clang of "trumpets, and cymbals, and musical instruments of God" (1Ch 16:42) resounding through the valleys far and near — is virtually the last we have of it. In a few years the Temple at Jerusalem was completed, and then the tabernacle was once more taken down and removed. Again "all the men of Israel assembled themselves" to king Solomon, with the "elders of Israel," and the priests and the Levites’ brought up both the tabernacle and the ark, and "all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle" (1Ki 8:3; Joseph. Ant. 8:4, 1), and placed the venerable relics in their new home, there to remain until the plunder of the city by Nebuchadnezzar. The introduction of the name of Gibeon in 1Ch 9:35, which seems so abrupt, is probably due to the fact that the preceding verses of-the chapter contain, as they appear to do, a list of the staff attached to the "tabernacle of the congregation" which was erected there; or if these persons should prove to be the attendants on the "new tent" which David had pitched for the ark on its arrival in the city of David, the transition to the place where the old tent was still standing is both natural and easy.

It would be very satisfactory to believe, with Thomson (Land and the Book, 2:547), that the present wady Suleiman, i.e., "Solomon’s valley," which commences on the west side of Gibeon, and leads down to the Plain of Sharon, derived its name from this visit. But the modern names of places in Palestine often spring from very modern persons or circumstances and, without confirmation or investigation, this cannot be received with certainty. — Smith, s.v.

Gibeon (gĭb’e-on), of a hill. A city of the Hivites, Jos 9:3-21, about six miles north of Jerusalem. Near it Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, Jos 10:12-13; Isa 28:21; the city was given to Benjamin and to the Levites, Jos 18:25; Jos 21:17; it was the scene of a notable battle, 2Sa 2:12-24; 2Sa 20:8-10; of the hanging of seven of Saul’s sons, 2Sa 21:1-6; the tabernacle was set up at Gibeon, 1Ch 16:39; and Solomon offered great sacrifices there, 1Ki 3:4-5; 1Ki 9:2; 2Ch 1:3; 2Ch 1:13; Jehoram recovered captives at Gibeon, Jer 41:12-16; its people helped to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the captivity, Neh 3:7; Neh 7:25; Ezr 2:20, margin. It is now called el-Jib.

[Gib’eon]

The leading city of the four which beguiled Joshua into making a league with them, on the plea of their being far distant. Jos 9:3-17. When the Amorites attacked Gibeon, because they had made peace with Israel, Joshua hastened to their deliverance, and to lengthen the daylight he said, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon." Jos 10:1-41. The city was afterwards given to Benjamin and made a Levitical city. Jos 18:25; Jos 21:17. In the days of Solomon, before the temple was built, the tabernacle was pitched at Gibeon, and thither Solomon went and offered a thousand sacrifices, and there God appeared to him in a dream, and gave him the desire of his heart - wisdom and understanding. 1Ki 3:4-5; 1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 21:29; 2Ch 1:3; 2Ch 1:13. It was near ’the great stone’ in Gibeon that Joab treacherously slew Amasa; and in retribution it was to the same city he fled to lay hold on the horns of the altar for protection, but where he was put to death. 2Sa 20:8-10; 1Ki 2:29-34. Identified with el Jib , 31° 51’ N, 35° 11’ E, a village of scattered houses on a hill. On one side of the hill is a copious spring, and lower down the remains of a large reservoir, which is thought to be the ’pool’ of Gibeon and its ’great waters.’ 2Sa 2:13; Jer 41:12; Jer 41:16. In 1Ch 14:16 we read that David smote the Philistines ’from Gibeon even to Gazer;’ but in the parallel passage in 2Sa 5:25 it says, David smote them ’from Geba’ to Gazer. Keil and others think Gibeon is the place intended.

GIBEON.—A town in Palestine north of Jerusalem. Its inhabitants seem to have been Hivites (Jos 9:7), though spoken of in 2Sa 21:2 by the more general term ‘Amorites.’ It was a city of considerable size. Its inhabitants, by means of a trick, succeeded in making a truce with Joshua, but were reduced to servitude (Jos 9:1-27); a coalition of other Canaanite kings against it was destroyed by him (ch. 10). It became a Levitical city (Jos 21:17) in the tribe of Benjamin (Jos 18:25). The circumstances of the destruction of part of the Gibeonites by Saul (2Sa 21:1) are unknown. Here the champions of David fought those of the rival king Ish-bosheth (2Sa 2:18-32), and defeated them; and here Joab murdered Amasa (2Sa 20:9). The ‘great stone’ In Gibeon was probably some part of the important high place which we know from 1Ki 3:4 was situated here. The statement of the parallel passage, 2Ch 1:3, that the ark was placed here at the time, is probably due merely to the desire of the Chronicler to explain Solomon’s sacrificing there in the light of the Deuteronomic legislation. Here Solomon was vouchsafed a theophany at the beginning of his reign. In Jer 41:12 we again hear of Gibeon, in connexion with Johanan’s expedition against Ishmael to avenge the murder of Gedaliah.

The city has constantly been identified with el-Jib, and there can be little or no doubt that the identification is correct. This is a small village standing on an isolated hill about 5 miles from Jerusalem. The hill is rocky and regularly terraced. It is remarkable chiefly for its copious springs—a reputation it evidently had in antiquity (2Sa 2:13, Jer 41:12). Ninety-five Gibeonites returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel (Neh 7:25), and Gibeonites were employed in repairing part of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh 3:7). At Gibeon, Cestius Gallus encamped in his march from Antipatris to Jerusalem.

R. A. S. Macalister.

gib´ē̇-un (גּבעון, gibh‛ōn): One of the royal cities of the Hivites (Jos 9:7). It was a greater city than Ai; and its inhabitants were reputed mighty men (Jos 10:2). It fell within the territory allotted to Benjamin (Jos 18:25), and was one of the cities given to the Levites (Jos 21:17).

1. The Gibeonites

By a stratagem the Gibeonites secured for themselves and their allies in Chephirah, Beeroth and Kirjath-jearim immunity from attack by the Israelites. Terrified by the fate of Jericho and Ai, a company disguised as ambassadors from a far country, their garments and shoes worn, and their provisions moldy as from the length of their journey, went to Joshua at Gilgal, and persuaded him and the princes of Israel to make a covenant with them. Three days later the deception was discovered and the wrath of the congregation of Israel aroused. In virtue of the covenant their lives were secured; but for their duplicity Joshua cursed them, and condemned them to be bondsmen, “hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God” (Jos 9:23), “for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord” (Jos 9:27 the King James Version). This points to their employment in the sanctuary; and possibly may shed some light on the massacre of the Gibeonites by Saul (2Sa 21:1 f). The rest of the Canaanites resented the defection of the Hivites which so greatly weakened the forces for defense, and, headed by Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem, they assembled to wreak vengeance on Gibeon. The threatened city appealed to Joshua, who made a swift night march, fell suddenly upon the confederates, routed them, and “chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah” (Jos 10:1).

A three years’ famine in the days of David was attributed to God’s anger at the unexpiated crime of Saul in slaying the Gibeonites. He did this “in his zeal for ... Israel and Judah,” who may have fretted at the inconvenience of having the Gibeonites among them. The latter believed that Saul’s desire was to destroy them utterly. When David tried to arrange matters with them they stood upon their ancient rights, claiming life for life. They would take no rights blood money: they demanded blood from the family of the slayer of their people. This demand David could not resist, and handed over to them seven sons of Saul (2Sa 21:1).

2. The Champions

The army of Ishbosheth under Abner, and that of David under Joab, met at the pool of Gibeon. An attempt to settle the quarrel, by means of 12 champions on either side, failed, as each man slew his fellow, and the 24 perished side by side. A “sore battle” ensued in which Abner was beaten; he was pursued by the fleet-footed Asahel, brother of Joab, whom he slew. See HELKATH-HAZZURIM.

Possibly we should read “Gibeon” instead of “Geba” in 2Sa 5:25, as in the parallel passage, 1Ch 14:16 (HDB, under the word) From Baal-perazim David was to make a circuit and fall upon the Philistines who were encamped in the plan of Rephaim West of Jerusalem. Perhaps, however, we should read “Gibeah” in both places. Cheyne (EB, under the word) thinks the hill town of Baal-perazim may be intended.

3. Murder of Amasa

When, after the death of Absalom and the suppression of his rebellion, Bichri raised the standard of revolt, Amasa was sent to call out the men of Judah against him. Tarrying longer than the time appointed, there was danger lest Bichri might have opportunity to strengthen his position; so David dispatched Abishai and the troops that were with him to attack Bichri at once. Joab went with this expedition. Obviously he could never be content with a second place. The force of Amasa was met at “the great stone of Gibeon.” There Joab treacherously slew that unsuspecting general, and, himself assuming command, stamped out the rebellion with his accustomed thoroughness (2Sa 20:4). “The great stone” appears to have been well known, and may have possessed some religious character.

4. The Sanctuary

Gibeon was the seat of an ancient sanctuary, called in 1Ki 3:4 “the great high place.” Here, according to 2Ch 1:3, was the tabernacle made in the wilderness - but see 1Ki 8:4. It was the scene of Solomon’s great sacrifice after which he slept in the sanctuary and dreamed his famous dream (1Ki 3:4; 1Ki 9:2; 2Ch 1:3, 2Ch 1:13, etc.).

By “the great waters that are in Gibeon” Johanan overtook Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and freed the captives he had taken from Mizpah (Jer 41:11). Among those who returned with Zerubbabel were 95 “children of Gibeon” (Neh 7:25; compare Neh 3:7). At Gibeon Cestius Gallus ancamped when marching against Jerusalem from Antipatris (BJ, II, xix, 1).

5. Identification and Description

The ancient city is represented by the modern village el-Jı̄b. It is fully 5 miles Northwest of Jerusalem, and about a mile North of Neby Samwı̄l on a double knoll, with terraced slopes, but rocky and precipitous to the East. The village stands amid striking remains of antiquity. About a hundred paces from the village to the East is a large reservoir with a spring. Lower down, among the olives, are the remains of another and larger reservoir, which collected the overflow from the first. This is probably the “pool” of 2Sa 2:13, and “the great waters” of Jer 41:12. El-Jı̄b stands in the midst of a rich upland plain not far South of the great pass which goes down by way of the Beth-horons into the vale of Aijalon.

Jos 9:3 (c) These people are a type to us of those who beguile Christians, deceive them, and offer them various kinds of allurements to win their sympathetic cooperation and fellowship. The world has many ways of enticing GOD’s people to join up with them. Quite often this may be seen in so-called "charity movements." The world puts on great programs for the relief of humanity, and in which they ask the Christians to join, while at the same time they will not permit the name of CHRIST, nor the Word of GOD, nor the message of the Gospel to have any place in their plans and solicitation. Christians who join up with the ungodly in those enterprises which will not permit CHRIST nor GOD to have any place will suffer for it.

Being a Canaanite town of central Palestine, Gibeon should have been destroyed by Joshua’s invading army. Instead the people of the town tricked the Israelites into promising to preserve them. The Israelites, though angry that the Gibeonites had deceived them, kept their promise and allowed the Gibeonites to live. The Gibeonites were forced to work for the Israelites as labourers, but the Israelites defended them against enemy attacks (Jos 9:3-27; Jos 10:1-14). When Saul broke the treaty and murdered some of the Gibeonites, his sons were executed in ‘blood for blood’ justice (2Sa 21:1-9).

Gibeon later became an important religious centre, where the tabernacle was set up and the priesthood operated for many years. It was the last location of the tabernacle before Solomon replaced it with a permanent temple in Jerusalem (1Ch 16:39; 1Ch 21:29; 2Ch 1:3; 2Ch 1:13).