Difference between revisions of "Gibeon"

<p> 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" (&nbsp;Joshua 10:2); "all its men were mighty." Within Benjamin; by the main road. six and a half miles from Jerusalem; allotted to the priests (&nbsp;Joshua 21:17). Ninety-five men of Gibeon returned with Zerubbabel, and helped in repairing the wall of [[Jerusalem]] under Nehemiah (&nbsp;Nehemiah 3:7; &nbsp;Nehemiah 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. </p> <p> 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]] (&nbsp;Jeremiah 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. (&nbsp;2 Samuel 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 (&nbsp;2 Samuel 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 (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:28-34; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 16:39-41.) </p> <p> 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 (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 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 (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 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 (&nbsp;1 Kings 8:3). </p>

<p> [[Gibeon]] ( ''Gĭb'E-On'' ), ''Of A Hill.'' A city of the Hivites, &nbsp;Joshua 9:3-21, about six miles north of Jerusalem. Near it Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, &nbsp;Joshua 10:12-13; &nbsp;Isaiah 28:21; the city was given to Benjamin and to the Levites, &nbsp;Joshua 18:25; &nbsp;Joshua 21:17; it was the scene of a notable battle, &nbsp;2 Samuel 2:12-24; &nbsp;2 Samuel 20:8-10; of the hanging of seven of Saul's sons, &nbsp;2 Samuel 21:1-6; the tabernacle was set up at Gibeon, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 16:39; and Solomon offered great sacrifices there, &nbsp;1 Kings 3:4-5; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:2; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 1:3; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 1:13; [[Jehoram]] recovered captives at Gibeon, &nbsp;Jeremiah 41:12-16; its people helped to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the captivity, &nbsp;Nehemiah 3:7; &nbsp;Nehemiah 7:25; &nbsp;Ezra 2:20, margin. It is now called el-Jib. </p>

<p> [[Gibeon, Gibeonites]]  </p> <p> 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, &nbsp;Joshua 9:3 throughout.) And we find in their farther history, (&nbsp;2 Samuel 21:1-6) that the Lord took part with them when 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 &nbsp;Isaiah 49:6) </p>

<p> ''''' gib´ē̇ ''''' - ''''' un ''''' ( גּבעון , <i> ''''' gibh‛ōn ''''' </i> ): One of the royal cities of the Hivites (&nbsp; Joshua 9:7 ). It was a greater city than Ai; and its inhabitants were reputed mighty men (&nbsp;Joshua 10:2 ). It fell within the territory allotted to Benjamin (&nbsp;Joshua 18:25 ), and was one of the cities given to the Levites (&nbsp;Joshua 21:17 ). </p> 1. The Gibeonites <p> 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" (&nbsp;Joshua 9:23 ), "for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord" (&nbsp;Joshua 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 (&nbsp; 2 Samuel 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" (&nbsp; Joshua 10:1 ). </p> <p> 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 (&nbsp;2 Samuel 21:1 ). </p> 2. The Champions <p> 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]] . </p> <p> Possibly we should read "Gibeon" instead of "Geba" in &nbsp;2 Samuel 5:25 , as in the parallel passage, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 14:16 ( <i> HDB </i> , 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 ( <i> EB </i> , under the word) thinks the hill town of Baal-perazim may be intended. </p> 3. [[Murder]] of Amasa <p> 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 (&nbsp;2 Samuel 20:4 ). "The great stone" appears to have been well known, and may have possessed some religious character. </p> 4. The [[Sanctuary]] <p> Gibeon was the seat of an ancient sanctuary, called in &nbsp;1 Kings 3:4 "the great high place." Here, according to &nbsp; 2 Chronicles 1:3 , was the tabernacle made in the wilderness - but see &nbsp;1 Kings 8:4 . It was the scene of Solomon's great sacrifice after which he slept in the sanctuary and dreamed his famous dream (&nbsp;1 Kings 3:4; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:2; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 1:3 , &nbsp;2 Chronicles 1:13 , etc.). </p> <p> By "the great waters that are in Gibeon" Johanan overtook Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and freed the captives he had taken from [[Mizpah]] (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:11 ). Among those who returned with Zerubbabel were 95 "children of Gibeon" (&nbsp;Nehemiah 7:25; compare &nbsp;Nehemiah 3:7 ). At Gibeon Cestius Gallus ancamped when marching against Jerusalem from Antipatris ( <i> BJ </i> , II, xix, 1). </p> 5. Identification and Description <p> The ancient city is represented by the modern village <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Jı̄b ''''' </i> . It is fully 5 miles Northwest of Jerusalem, and about a mile North of <i> ''''' Neby Samwı̄l ''''' </i> 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 &nbsp; 2 Samuel 2:13 , and "the great waters" of &nbsp;Jeremiah 41:12 . <i> ''''' [[El]] ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Jı̄b ''''' </i> 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. </p>