Lexical Summary Gibon: Gibeon Original Word: גִּבְעוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gibeon From the same as Geba'; hilly; Gibon, a place in Palestine -- Gibeon. see HEBREW Geba' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as Geba Definition a Levitical city in Benjamin NASB Translation Gibeon (37). Brown-Driver-Briggs גִּבְעוֺן proper name, of a location — ׳ג Joshua 9:17 +; with ָ ה locative; גִּבְע֫וֺנָה 2 Samuel 2:12 compare 1 Kings 3:4; — Levitical city in tribe of Benjamin; formerly inhabited by Hivites Joshua 9:17; Joshua 10:2,4,5,10,12,41; Joshua 11:19; Joshua 18:25; Joshua 21:17; 2 Samuel 2:12,13 (pool of Gibeon) 2 Samuel 2:16; 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 20:8; Jeremiah 28:1; Jeremiah 41:12 (great waters which are in Gibeon) Jeremiah 41:16; 1 Chronicles 14:16; see especially ׳יוֺשְׁבַי ג, ׳אַנְשֵׁי ג Joshua 9:3, (called Hivites Joshua 9:7) Joshua 10:1,6; Joshua 11:19; Nehemiah 3:7, so ׳בְּנֵי ג Nehemiah 7:25 (= בְּנֵי גִבָּר Ezra 2:20, see גִּבָּר); compare also as proper name, masculine 1 Chronicles 8:29 וּבְגִבְעוֺן יָָֽשְׁבו אֲבִי גִבְעוֺן = 1 Chronicles 9:35; compare ׳מִדְבַּר ג 2 Samuel 2:24, ׳עֵמֶק בְּג Isaiah 28:21; it was the site of great Bamah 1 Kings 3:4,5; 1 Kings 9:2, where was 'the tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place' according to 1 Chronicles 16:39; compare 1 Chronicles 21:20; 2Chronicles 1:13 (twice in verse). Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Situated about six miles northwest of Jerusalem, Gibeon occupied a strategic hilltop guarding the approach to the central highlands. It lay within Benjamin’s tribal borders (Joshua 18:25) and formed part of a confederation with Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim (Joshua 9:17). Archaeological finds at modern el-Jib confirm a heavily fortified Late Bronze Age city, matching the biblical record of a sizeable, independent Canaanite population. Origin and Early History At the time of Israel’s entry into Canaan the Gibeonites were Hivites (Joshua 9:7). Fearing the coming judgment, they sought protection through a ruse, securing a covenant with Israel (Joshua 9:3-15). Though obtained deceitfully, the oath was honored, teaching Israel—and later readers—that the sanctity of covenant promises transcends circumstances (Joshua 9:19-20). Their servile status as “woodcutters and water-carriers for the house of my God” (Joshua 9:23) knit them permanently to Israel’s worship life. The Battle When the Sun Stood Still Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem led five Amorite kings against Gibeon for defecting to Israel. Joshua’s all-night march culminated in divine intervention: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon” (Joshua 10:12-13). The prolonged daylight and accompanying hailstones proclaimed the LORD’s supremacy and His faithfulness to covenant partners, even foreign ones grafted in by grace. A City of Levites and Priestly Service Gibeon later became a Levitical city (Joshua 21:17). The Tabernacle and the bronze altar were housed there after the Philistine destruction of Shiloh (1 Chronicles 16:39-40; 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:3, 5-6). Consequently, national sacrifices and festival worship centered on its “great high place” until the Temple was built. The arrangement underscores continuity of worship during transitional times. Gibeon in the United Monarchy • Pool of Gibeon: The civil war between Saul’s house and David erupted here when twelve young men from each side fell together (2 Samuel 2:12-16). Solomon’s Encounter with God “Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place… At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night” (1 Kings 3:4-5). The gracious offer, “Ask, and I will give” (1 Kings 3:5), forged the wisdom theme of Solomon’s reign. After dedicating the Temple, “the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared at Gibeon” (1 Kings 9:2), linking the two revelations and marking Gibeon as a locale of divine self-disclosure. Genealogical and Post-Exilic Mentions • Jeiel, “father of Gibeon,” and his wife Maacah head Saul’s ancestral list (1 Chronicles 8:29-33; 9:35-39). Theological Themes 1. Covenant Integrity: Israel’s obligation to the Gibeonite treaty illustrates the inviolability of oaths made in God’s name. Lessons for Ministry Today • Honor commitments, even when inconvenient. Key References Joshua 9; 10:1-15; 11:19; 18:25; 21:17 2 Samuel 2:12-16; 3:26-30; 20:8-10; 21:1-9 1 Kings 3:4-15; 9:2 1 Chronicles 16:39-40; 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:3-13 Jeremiah 28:1; 41:10-12 Nehemiah 3:7; 12:29 Forms and Transliterations בְּגִבְע֑וֹן בְּגִבְע֔וֹן בְּגִבְע֖וֹן בְּגִבְע֗וֹן בְּגִבְע֣וֹן בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃ בְּגִבְעוֹן֙ בגבעון בגבעון׃ גִּבְע֑וֹן גִּבְע֔וֹן גִּבְע֖וֹן גִּבְע֣וֹן גִּבְע֥וֹן גִּבְעֹ֙נָה֙ גִּבְעֽוֹן׃ גִּבְעֽוֹנָה׃ גִבְע֑וֹן גִבְע֖וֹן גִבְע֜וֹן גִבְע֨וֹן גִבְעוֹן֙ גבעון גבעון׃ גבעונה׃ גבענה וּבְגִבְע֛וֹן וּבְגִבְע֥וֹן ובגבעון מִגִּבְע֖וֹן מִגִּבְעֽוֹן׃ מִגִּבְעוֹן֙ מגבעון מגבעון׃ bə·ḡiḇ·‘ō·wn bəḡiḇ‘ōwn begivon giḇ‘ōnāh giḇ‘ōwn ḡiḇ‘ōwn giḇ‘ōwnāh giḇ·‘ō·nāh giḇ·‘ō·w·nāh giḇ·‘ō·wn ḡiḇ·‘ō·wn givon givonah mig·giḇ·‘ō·wn miggiḇ‘ōwn miggivon ū·ḇə·ḡiḇ·‘ō·wn ūḇəḡiḇ‘ōwn uvegivonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 9:3 HEB: וְיֹשְׁבֵ֨י גִבְע֜וֹן שָׁמְע֗וּ אֵת֩ NAS: When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard KJV: And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard INT: the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua 9:17 Joshua 10:1 Joshua 10:2 Joshua 10:4 Joshua 10:5 Joshua 10:6 Joshua 10:10 Joshua 10:12 Joshua 10:41 Joshua 11:19 Joshua 18:25 Joshua 21:17 2 Samuel 2:12 2 Samuel 2:13 2 Samuel 2:16 2 Samuel 2:24 2 Samuel 3:30 2 Samuel 20:8 1 Kings 3:4 1 Kings 3:5 1 Kings 9:2 1 Chronicles 8:29 1 Chronicles 8:29 1 Chronicles 9:35 37 Occurrences |
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