Gibeon

Hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were
mighty" (Joshua 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (11:19). It lay within the
territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17). Here the
tabernacle was set up after the destruction of Nob, and here it remained many
years till the temple was built by Solomon. It is represented by the modern el-Jib,
to the south-west of Ai, and about 5 1/2 miles north-north-west of Jerusalem.
A deputation of the Gibeonites, with their allies from three other cities (Joshua
9;17), visited the camp at Gilgal, and by false representations induced Joshua to
enter into a league with them, although the Israelites had been specially warned
against any league with the inhabitants of Canaan (Exodus
23:32; 34:12; Numbers 33:55; Deuteronomy 7:2). The deception practised on
Joshua was detected three days later; but the oath rashly sworn "by Jehovah
God of Israel" was kept, and the lives of the Gibeonites were spared. They were,
however, made "bondmen" to the sanctuary (Joshua 9:23).
The most remarkable incident connected with this city was the victory Joshua
gained over the kings of Palestine (Joshua 10:16-27). The battle here fought has
been regarded as "one of the most important in the history of the world." The
kings of southern Canaan entered into a confederacy against Gibeon (because it
had entered into a league with Joshua) under the leadership of Adoni-zedec, king
of Jerusalem, and marched upon Gibeon with the view of taking possession of it.
The Gibeonites entreated Joshua to come to their aid with the utmost speed. His
army came suddenly upon that of the Amorite kings as it lay encamped before
the city. It was completely routed, and only broken remnants of their great host
found refuge in the fenced cities. The five confederate kings who led the army
were taken prisoners, and put to death at Makkedah (q.v.). This eventful battle of
Beth-horon sealed the fate of all the cities of Southern Palestine. Among the
Amarna tablets is a letter from Adoni-zedec (q.v.) to the king of Egypt, written
probably at Makkedah after the defeat, showing that the kings contemplated flight
into Egypt.
This place is again brought into notice as the scene of a battle between the army
of Ish-bosheth under Abner and that of David led by Joab. At the suggestion of
Abner, to spare the effusion of blood twelve men on either side were chosen to
decide the battle. The issue was unexpected; for each of the men slew his fellow,
and thus they all perished. The two armies then engaged in battle, in which
Abner and his host were routed and put to flight (2 Samuel 2:12-17). This battle
led to a virtual truce between Judah and Israel, Judah, under David, increasing in
power; and Israel, under Ish-bosheth, continually losing ground.
Soon after the death of Absalom and David's restoration to his throne his
kingdom was visited by a grievous famine, which was found to be a punishment
for Saul's violation (2 Samuel 21:2, 5) of the covenant with the Gibeonites
(Joshua 9:3-27). The Gibeonites demanded blood for the wrong that had been
done to them, and accordingly David gave up to them the two sons of Rizpah
(q.v.) and the five sons of Michal, and these the Gibeonites took and hanged or
crucified "in the hill before the Lord" (2 Samuel 21:9); and there the bodies hung
for six months (21:10), and all the while Rizpah watched over the blackening
corpses and "suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the
beasts of the field by night." David afterwards removed the bones of Saul and
Jonathan at Jabeshgilead (21:12, 13).
Here, "at the great stone," Amasa was put to death by Joab (2 Samuel 20:5-10).
To the altar of burnt-offering which was at Gibeon, Joab (1 Kings 2:28-34), who
had taken the side of Adonijah, fled for sanctuary in the beginning of Solomon's
reign, and was there also slain by the hand of Benaiah.
Soon after he came to the throne, Solomon paid a visit of state to Gibeon, there
to offer sacrifices (1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:3). On this occasion the Lord
appeared to him in a memorable dream, recorded in 1 Kings 3:5-15; 2
Chronicles 1:7-12. When the temple was built "all the men of Israel assembled
themselves" to king Solomon, and brought up from Gibeon the tabernacle and
"all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle" to Jerusalem, where they
remained till they were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:13).