Lexical Summary
Gibon: Gibeon
Original Word:גִּבְעוֹן
Part of Speech:Proper Name Location
Transliteration:Gib`own
Pronunciation:ghib-ohn'
Phonetic Spelling:(ghib-ohn')
KJV: Gibeon
NASB:Gibeon
Word Origin:[from the same asH1387 (גֶּבַע - Geba)]
1. hilly
2. Gibon, a place in Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Gibeon
From the same asGeba'; hilly; Gibon, a place in Palestine -- Gibeon.
see HEBREWGeba'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
GebaDefinitiona Levitical city in Benjamin
NASB TranslationGibeon (37).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
—
Joshua 9:17 +; with locative;
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 ,
Joshua 9:3, (called Hivites
Joshua 9:7)
Joshua 10:1,6;
Joshua 11:19;
Nehemiah 3:7, so
Nehemiah 7:25 (=
Ezra 2:20, see ); compare also as proper name, masculine
1 Chronicles 8:29 =
1 Chronicles 9:35; compare
2 Samuel 2:24,
Isaiah 28:21; it was the site of great
Bamah1 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 SettingSituated 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).
• Joab struck Abner “by the gate of Gibeon” (2 Samuel 3:30).
• Joab later slew Amasa near the same location (2 Samuel 20:8).
• David’s victory sweep against the Philistines extended “from Gibeon to Gezer” (1 Chronicles 14:16), showing the city’s military importance.
• Famine atoned by handing over Saul’s descendants “because of Saul’s bloodstained house, because he put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Samuel 21:1-9). The episode reaffirms God’s regard for covenant justice centuries after the pledge ofJoshua 9.
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).
• Hananiah the son of Azur, the false prophet, hailed from Gibeon (Jeremiah 28:1).
• Ishmael’s murderous band was pursued to “the great pool in Gibeon” (Jeremiah 41:12).
• Returned exiles from Gibeon aided Nehemiah’s wall repairs (Nehemiah 3:7) and joined covenant renewal celebrations (Nehemiah 12:29), demonstrating the town’s continuing identity within the covenant community.
Theological Themes
1. Covenant Integrity: Israel’s obligation to the Gibeonite treaty illustrates the inviolability of oaths made in God’s name.
2. Grace to Outsiders: The Hivite newcomers find refuge and lifelong ministry within Israel’s worship.
3. God’s Powerful Intervention: The day the sun halted proclaims His sovereign command over creation for His redemptive purposes.
4. Worship in Transition: Gibeon bridges the move from the portable Tabernacle to the fixed Temple, assuring continuous access to God.
5. Accountability Across Generations: Saul’s breach of covenant and the subsequent famine reveal that covenant violations carry lasting repercussions.
Lessons for Ministry Today
• Honor commitments, even when inconvenient.
• Welcome those who seek refuge under God’s covenant, regardless of origin.
• Rely on the Lord’s mighty acts; He can extend “daylight” to accomplish His mission.
• Provide stable centers of worship during seasons of change.
• Teach successive generations the seriousness of covenant faithfulness.
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 uvegivon
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