Lexical Summary Gibli: Giblite Original Word: גִּבְלִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Giblites, stone-squarer : patrial from Gbal; a Gebalite, or inhabitant of Gebal -- Giblites, stone-squarer. see HEBREW Gbal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Gebal Definition inhab. of Gebal NASB Translation Gebalite (1), Gebalites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גִּבְלִי adjective, of a people of foregoing with article = collective noun Joshua 13:5 והארץ הַגִּבְלִי, but read ׳גְבוּל הַגּ, compare Di. 1 Kings 5:32 הַגִּבְלִים (but probably text error; Th reads וַיַּגְבִּלוּם and they bordered them, made a border for them (the stones); ᵐ5 ἔβαλον, compare also Klo). Topical Lexicon Geographical Location and Identity The Giblites were the inhabitants of Gebal, an ancient maritime city situated on the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon, approximately twenty miles north of Beirut and known to the Greeks as Byblos. Gebal lay between Sidon to the south and Arvad to the north, making it a pivotal Phoenician port and a natural gateway between inland trade routes and the sea. The people were renowned seafarers, craftsmen, and stone-workers, sharing in the broader Phoenician expertise in navigation, trade, and monumental building. Biblical Occurrences 1. Joshua 13:5 records the “territory of the Giblites” among the northern lands that remained to be fully possessed by Israel: “the land of the Gebalites and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath”. These two appearances, though brief, frame the Giblites first as a Canaanite enclave bordering Israel’s northern inheritance and later as valued artisans who assisted in the building of the First Temple. Historical Background Archaeology confirms Gebal’s antiquity, stretching back to the third millennium B.C. The city’s long exposure to Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Hittite influences produced a cosmopolitan culture adept in commercial exchange and skilled labor. Its famed cedar shipments and expertly cut stones were exported throughout the Mediterranean world. Thus, long before Israel crossed the Jordan, Gebal had a well-established reputation as a center of maritime commerce and stone craftsmanship. Role in Israelite Conquest and Settlement Joshua 13:5 situates the Giblite land on the frontier of Israel’s as-yet unpossessed territory. The placement underscores two themes: That the Giblites are mentioned only in passing at this stage suggests they maintained a semi-independent status under Israel’s loose federative control or as a neutral neighbor until the united monarchy. Contribution to Temple Construction By the era of Solomon, relations between Israel and Phoenicia had deepened into formal alliances. King Hiram of Tyre supplied cedar logs and skilled workers, while the Giblites provided specialized stone quarriers. Their involvement exemplifies at least three biblical principles: 1. Divine Provision through Gentile Cooperation God employed the technical expertise of a Gentile people to construct His earthly dwelling place, foreshadowing the later inclusion of the nations in the redemptive plan (Isaiah 56:6–7; Revelation 21:24–26). 2. Excellence in Craft and Worship The Gebalite craftsmen contributed to a project explicitly designed for the worship of Yahweh. Their precision and artistry underscore that skillful labor, when offered in service of God’s purposes, becomes sanctified work (1 Corinthians 10:31). 3. Fulfillment of Covenant Promises The temple was both the symbol and the seat of God’s covenant presence with Israel. The participation of surrounding peoples demonstrates that God’s covenant blessing radiates outward, impacting and employing even those beyond Israel’s covenant boundaries (Genesis 12:3). Wider Scriptural Echoes of Gebal Although derived from a cognate term, other texts illuminate the reputation of the region and its people: These references align with the Giblites’ portrayal in 1 Kings as artisans of high renown. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. God’s Sovereignty over National Boundaries The inclusion of the Giblites in Israel’s territorial promises teaches that humanly drawn borders do not limit divine intent. Believers may trust God’s ability to open doors and extend influence beyond apparent constraints (Acts 1:8). 2. Collaboration without Compromise Solomon’s partnership with Hiram and the Giblites reveals that cooperation with unbelievers in matters of common good is permissible when it does not entail idolatry or moral concession (2 Corinthians 6:14–18). Faithful discernment enables the church to benefit from external expertise while maintaining doctrinal purity. 3. Valuing Vocational Skills for Kingdom Purposes The Lord enlisted craftsmen from Gebal for His sacred house, affirming that every legitimate talent can advance His mission. Modern ministry should similarly recognize and integrate diverse skills—engineering, arts, technology—as acts of worship and service (Exodus 31:1–6; Colossians 3:23). Summary The Giblites, though rarely named, occupy a strategic niche in the biblical narrative. Positioned along Israel’s northern frontier, they symbolize unclaimed potential in the promised land. Later, their master craftsmen join forces with Solomon to erect the temple, illustrating God’s pattern of drawing the abilities of many peoples into His redemptive program. Their account encourages believers to expect God’s promises to reach completion, to welcome rightly ordered cooperation, and to dedicate every vocational gift to the glory of the Lord. Forms and Transliterations הַגִּבְלִ֗י הגבלי וְהַגִּבְלִ֑ים והגבלים hag·giḇ·lî haggiḇlî haggivLi vehaggivLim wə·hag·giḇ·lîm wəhaggiḇlîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 13:5 HEB: וְהָאָ֣רֶץ הַגִּבְלִ֗י וְכָל־ הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ NAS: and the land of the Gebalite, and all KJV: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, INT: and the land of the Gebalite and all of Lebanon 1 Kings 5:18 2 Occurrences |
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