Reference: Gibeon
American
A considerable city of the Hivites, afterwards a Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25; 21:17. It lay near Geba and Gibeah, and is sometimes wrongly taken for Geba. Its Canaanite inhabitants secured a treaty with Joshua and the elders of Israel by strategem, and were made hewers of wood for the sanctuary. Five neighboring kings unitedly fell upon them; but were defeated by the Jews in a great battle, during which "the sun stood still upon Gibeon," Jos 9:10. Here the tabernacle was set up for many years,1Ch 16:39; 21:29; 2Ch 1:3-4; and here god communed by night with young king Solomon, 1Ki 3:4-15. It is also memorable for two scenes in the life of Joab, 2Sa 2:12-32; 20:8-12; Jer 41:12. It stood on an eminence, six miles north of Jerusalem.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth.
And out of the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with her suburbs; Geba with her suburbs;
And Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul went out of Mahanaim, to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the Pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one part on the one side the pool and the other on the other side. read more. And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and play before us." And Joab answered, "Be it." Then there arose and went over: twelve of Benjamin by number, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul; and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught each his fellow that came against him, by the head and thrust his sword in his side, and so fell down all at once. Wherefore the place was called Helkathhazzurim which is in Gibeon. And there began an exceeding cruel battle that same day. But Abner and the men of Israel were put to the worse of the servants of David. And there was three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel - which Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild roe - and followed after Abner and turned neither to the righthand nor to the left from Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Art thou Asahel?" And he said, "Yea." Then said Abner, "Turn thee either to the righthand or to the left and catch one of the young men and take thee his spoil." But Asahel would not depart from him. And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn from me! Why wilt thou that I smite thee to the ground? For then how should I hold up my face before Joab thy brother?" Howbeit, he would in no wise depart. Then Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the short ribs, that the spear came out behind him: that he fell down in the same place and died there. And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. But Joab and Abishai followed Abner till the sun went down. And when they were come to the hill Ammah that lieth before Giah in the way that goeth through the wilderness of Gibeon, the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner on a plump and stood still on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour without end? Knowest thou not that bitterness is wont to come in the latter end? How long shall it be, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?" And Joab answered, "As truly as God liveth, if thou hadst so said, then even in the morning had the people departed, each from following his brother." And therewith Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more nor fought no more. And Abner and his men walked all that night by the wild fields, and went over Jordan, and passed through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from after Abner and gathered all the people together. And there lacked, of David's servants, nineteen persons and Asahel. But the servants of David had slain, of Benjamin and of Abner's men, three hundred and three score men. And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and came in the dawning to Hebron.
And when they were come to the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. And Joab had his garment that he had about him, gird unto him, and had girded thereon a knife joined fast to his loins, in such a sheath that as he went it fell sometimes out. And Joab said to Amasa, "Are all things in rest and peace my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him. read more. And Amasa took no heed to the knife that was in Joab's hand, with which Joab smote him in the short ribs, and shed out his bowels to the ground and smote him but one stroke, and he died. And then Joab and Abishai his brother followed after Sheba the son of Bichri. And one of Joab's men that stood by him said, "What is he that he would be as Joab, and what is he that would be unto David instead of Joab?" And Amasa lay wallowing in blood in the midst of the way. And there was a man that saw all the people stand still. And when he saw that all that came by him stood still, he rolled Amasa out of the way into the field and cast a cloth upon him.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar. And in Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give thee." read more. And Solomon said, "Thou hast showed unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy; according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and plainness of heart with thee. And thou hast kept for him this great mercy, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his seat: as it is come to pass this day. And now LORD, my God, it is thou that hast made thy servant king instead of David my father. And I am a young lad and know not how to order myself. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a people that are so many that they can not be told nor numbered for multitude. Give therefore unto thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, and to discern between good, and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so weighty a people?" And it pleased the LORD well, that Solomon had desired this thing. Wherefore God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked long life, neither hast asked riches, nor the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked the discretion to understand equity: see, I have done according to thy petition. And behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And thereto I have given thee that thou askedst not, both riches and honour: so that there shall be no king like thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep mine ordinances and commandments as David thy father did walk, I will lengthen thy days also." When Solomon awoke, this was his dream. And he came to Jerusalem and presented himself before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
And Zadok the priest with his brethren the priests set he before the tabernacle of the LORD at the hill altar of Gibeon,
For the tabernacle of the LORD which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were that season in the hill at Gibeon.
they took their companions, and went out for to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the waters of Rabim in Gibeon.
Easton
hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty" (Jos 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (Jos 11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (Jos 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 (Jos 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 (Ex 23:32; 34:12; Nu 33:55; De 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 (Jos 9:23).
The most remarkable incident connected with this city was the victory Joshua gained over the kings of Palestine (Jos 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 (2Sa 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 (2Sa 21:2,5) of the covenant with the Gibeonites (Jos 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" (2Sa 21:9); and there the bodies hung for six months (2Sa 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 (2Sa 21:12-13).
Here, "at the great stone," Amasa was put to death by Joab (2Sa 20:5-10). To the altar of burnt-offering which was at Gibeon, Joab (1Ki 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 (1Ki 3:4; 2Ch 1:3). On this occasion the Lord appeared to him in a memorable dream, recorded in 1Ki 3:5-15; 2Ch 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 (2Ki 24:13).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And thou shalt make none covenant with them nor with their gods.
Take heed to thyself, that thou make no covenant with the inhabiters of the land whither thou goest lest it be cause of ruin among you.
But and if ye will not drive out the inhabiters of the land before you, then those which ye let remain of them, shall be thorns in your eyes and darts in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
and when the LORD thy God hath set them before thee that thou shouldest smite them: see that thou utterly destroy them and make no covenant with them nor have compassion on them.
But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again, read more. and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared. And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us." And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?" And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, "What are ye, and whence come ye?" And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabiters of our country spake to us saying, 'Take victuals with you to serve by the way, and go against them, and say unto them: We are your servants.' Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us. This, our provision of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared. And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey." And the men took of their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them. But three days after they had made peace with them, they heard that they were neighbours unto them, and that they dwelt among them. For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim.
For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim. And the children of Israel slew them not, because the lords of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And therefore all the multitude murmured against the lords. read more. But all the lords said unto all the congregation, "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel, and therefore we may not hurt them. But this we will do to them and let them live: and so shall no wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them." And the lords said unto them, "Let them live, that they may be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation," as the lords said unto them. Then Joshua sent for them, and talked with them, and said, "Wherefore have ye beguiled us and yet ye dwell among us? And now therefore cursed be you, and there shall not cease to be of you, bondmen and hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the house of my God."
And now therefore cursed be you, and there shall not cease to be of you, bondmen and hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the house of my God." And they answered Joshua and said, "It was told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabiters thereof out of your sight, and therefore we were exceeding sore afraid of our lives because of you. read more. And now, behold, we are in thine hand; as it seemeth good and right in thine eyes to do unto us, so do." And he dealt as it is said with them, and rid them out of the hands of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Joshua made them that same day hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the congregation and unto the altar of God unto this day, in the place which God should choose.
then they feared exceedingly, for Gibeon was a great city, as any city of the kingdom, and thereto greater than Ai, and all her men were mighty.
but the five kings fled and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, "The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah." read more. And Joshua said, roll great stones unto the mouth of the cave and appoint men thereto, for to keep them. And stand ye not still, but follow after your enemies and smite the hindmost of them. And suffer them not to enter into their cities, for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hands. And when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a great slaughter till they were wasted, yet there remained a certain of them, which entered into walled cities. And all the people returned to the host, to Joshua at Makkedah in peace, so that no man durst move his tongue against the children of Israel. Then said Joshua, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out these five kings unto me out of the cave." And they did so, and brought those five kings unto him, out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. And when they had brought out those kings unto Joshua: Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war, which came with him, "Come near and put your feet upon the necks of these kings." And they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, "Fear not, nor dread: But be strong and pluck up your hearts, for so shall the LORD serve all your enemies against which ye fight." And then Joshua smote them and slew them and hanged them on five trees till evening. And at the going down of the sun, Joshua gave commandment, and they took them down off the trees and cast them into the cave, where they hid themselves, and laid great stones on the cave's mouth, which remain unto this day.
for there was no city that made peace with the children of Israel, save those Hittites that inhabited Gibeon. All other they took with battle,
And out of the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with her suburbs; Geba with her suburbs;
And Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul went out of Mahanaim, to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the Pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one part on the one side the pool and the other on the other side. read more. And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and play before us." And Joab answered, "Be it." Then there arose and went over: twelve of Benjamin by number, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul; and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught each his fellow that came against him, by the head and thrust his sword in his side, and so fell down all at once. Wherefore the place was called Helkathhazzurim which is in Gibeon. And there began an exceeding cruel battle that same day. But Abner and the men of Israel were put to the worse of the servants of David.
And Amasa went to gather the men of Judah together: but tarried longer than the time which was appointed him. Wherefore the king said to Abishai, "Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri be worse to us than Absalom. Take thou therefore thy lord's servants and follow after him: lest he get him walled cities and escape us." read more. And there went out after him Joab's men and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and the men of might. And they departed out of Jerusalem to follow after Sheba the son of Bichri. And when they were come to the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. And Joab had his garment that he had about him, gird unto him, and had girded thereon a knife joined fast to his loins, in such a sheath that as he went it fell sometimes out. And Joab said to Amasa, "Are all things in rest and peace my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him. And Amasa took no heed to the knife that was in Joab's hand, with which Joab smote him in the short ribs, and shed out his bowels to the ground and smote him but one stroke, and he died. And then Joab and Abishai his brother followed after Sheba the son of Bichri.
And the king called the Gibeonites and spake unto them. Now these Gibeonites are not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites - and the children of Israel sware unto them. And yet Saul sought to slay them, for a zeal that he had to the children of Israel and of Judah.
And they said unto the king, "The man that consumed and imagined to bring us to nought, him we ought to destroy, that nought of him continue in any of the coasts of Israel.
and delivered them unto the hands of the Gibeonites, which hanged them in the hill before the LORD. And they fell all seven together in the first days of harvest: even in the beginning of barley harvest. And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it under her upon the rock, even from the beginning of harvest until rain dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to fall on them by day nor beasts of the field by night.
he went and took the bones of Saul, and of Jonathan his son, and of the men of Jabesh in Gilead, which they had stolen from the street of Bet-Shean, where the Philistines had hanged them in the days when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa. And he brought thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they fetched away the bones of them that were hanged,
Then tidings came to Joab - for Joab had turned after Adonijah, but not after Absalom - whereupon he fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and caught handfast on the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon how that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and stood by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada saying, "Go and smite him." read more. And when Benaiah was come to the tabernacle of the LORD he said unto him, "Thus sayeth the king: 'Come out.'" And he said, "Nay: But I will die even here." And Benaiah brought the king word, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." And the king said, "Do even as he hath said: smite him and bury him, and take away the blood which Joab shed, causeless, from me and from the house of my father. And the LORD bring his blood upon his own head, for he smote two men righteouser and better than he, and slew them with the sword; my father unwitting: even Abner the son of Ner captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether captain of the host of Judah. And their blood return upon the head of Joab and on the head of his seed forever. And prosperity be unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his seat, of the LORD forever." And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar. And in Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give thee." read more. And Solomon said, "Thou hast showed unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy; according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and plainness of heart with thee. And thou hast kept for him this great mercy, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his seat: as it is come to pass this day. And now LORD, my God, it is thou that hast made thy servant king instead of David my father. And I am a young lad and know not how to order myself. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a people that are so many that they can not be told nor numbered for multitude. Give therefore unto thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, and to discern between good, and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so weighty a people?" And it pleased the LORD well, that Solomon had desired this thing. Wherefore God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked long life, neither hast asked riches, nor the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked the discretion to understand equity: see, I have done according to thy petition. And behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And thereto I have given thee that thou askedst not, both riches and honour: so that there shall be no king like thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep mine ordinances and commandments as David thy father did walk, I will lengthen thy days also." When Solomon awoke, this was his dream. And he came to Jerusalem and presented himself before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
And he carried out thence all the treasure of the house of the LORD, and the treasure of the king's house, and brake all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made, in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
Fausets
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" (Jos 10:2); "all its men were mighty." Within Benjamin; by the main road. six and a half miles from Jerusalem; allotted to the priests (Jos 21:17). Ninety-five men of Gibeon returned with Zerubbabel, and helped in repairing the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah (Ne 3:7; 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.
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 (Jer 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. (2Sa 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 (2Sa 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 (1Ki 2:28-34; 1Ch 16:39-41.)
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 (2Ch 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 (2Ch 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 (1Ki 8:3).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
then they feared exceedingly, for Gibeon was a great city, as any city of the kingdom, and thereto greater than Ai, and all her men were mighty.
And out of the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with her suburbs; Geba with her suburbs;
But Joab and Abishai followed Abner till the sun went down. And when they were come to the hill Ammah that lieth before Giah in the way that goeth through the wilderness of Gibeon,
And Amasa went to gather the men of Judah together: but tarried longer than the time which was appointed him. Wherefore the king said to Abishai, "Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri be worse to us than Absalom. Take thou therefore thy lord's servants and follow after him: lest he get him walled cities and escape us." read more. And there went out after him Joab's men and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and the men of might. And they departed out of Jerusalem to follow after Sheba the son of Bichri. And when they were come to the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. And Joab had his garment that he had about him, gird unto him, and had girded thereon a knife joined fast to his loins, in such a sheath that as he went it fell sometimes out. And Joab said to Amasa, "Are all things in rest and peace my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him. And Amasa took no heed to the knife that was in Joab's hand, with which Joab smote him in the short ribs, and shed out his bowels to the ground and smote him but one stroke, and he died. And then Joab and Abishai his brother followed after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Then tidings came to Joab - for Joab had turned after Adonijah, but not after Absalom - whereupon he fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and caught handfast on the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon how that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and stood by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada saying, "Go and smite him." read more. And when Benaiah was come to the tabernacle of the LORD he said unto him, "Thus sayeth the king: 'Come out.'" And he said, "Nay: But I will die even here." And Benaiah brought the king word, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." And the king said, "Do even as he hath said: smite him and bury him, and take away the blood which Joab shed, causeless, from me and from the house of my father. And the LORD bring his blood upon his own head, for he smote two men righteouser and better than he, and slew them with the sword; my father unwitting: even Abner the son of Ner captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether captain of the host of Judah. And their blood return upon the head of Joab and on the head of his seed forever. And prosperity be unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his seat, of the LORD forever." And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness.
And when all the elders of Israel were come, the priests took up the Ark of the LORD,
And so Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the hill altar of Gibeon: for there was the tabernacle of witness of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD made in the wilderness.
Moreover, the brazen altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur had made, was at Gibeon also, before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the congregation went to visit it.
Next unto them builded Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizphah; where he that was captain on this side the water had a mansion.
they took their companions, and went out for to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the waters of Rabim in Gibeon.
Hastings
A town in Palestine north of Jerusalem. Its inhabitants seem to have been Hivites (Jos 9:7), though spoken of in 2Sa 21:2 by the more general term 'Amorites.' It was a city of considerable size. Its inhabitants, by means of a trick, succeeded in making a truce with Joshua, but were reduced to servitude (Jos 9); a coalition of other Canaanite kings against it was destroyed by him (ch. 10). It became a Levitical city (Jos 21:17) in the tribe of Benjamin (Jos 18:25). The circumstances of the destruction of part of the Gibeonites by Saul (2Sa 21:1) are unknown. Here the champions of David fought those of the rival king Ish-bosheth (2Sa 2:18-32), and defeated them; and here Joab murdered Amasa (2Sa 20:9). The 'great stone' In Gibeon was probably some part of the important high place which we know from 1Ki 3:4 was situated here. The statement of the parallel passage, 2Ch 1:3, that the ark was placed here at the time, is probably due merely to the desire of the Chronicler to explain Solomon's sacrificing there in the light of the Deuteronomic legislation. Here Solomon was vouchsafed a theophany at the beginning of his reign. In Jer 41:12 we again hear of Gibeon, in connexion with Johanan's expedition against Ishmael to avenge the murder of Gedaliah.
The city has constantly been identified with el-Jib, and there can be little or no doubt that the identification is correct. This is a small village standing on an isolated hill about 5 miles from Jerusalem. The hill is rocky and regularly terraced. It is remarkable chiefly for its copious springs
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?"
And out of the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with her suburbs; Geba with her suburbs;
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the Pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one part on the one side the pool and the other on the other side.
And there was three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel - which Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild roe - and followed after Abner and turned neither to the righthand nor to the left from Abner. read more. Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Art thou Asahel?" And he said, "Yea." Then said Abner, "Turn thee either to the righthand or to the left and catch one of the young men and take thee his spoil." But Asahel would not depart from him. And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn from me! Why wilt thou that I smite thee to the ground? For then how should I hold up my face before Joab thy brother?" Howbeit, he would in no wise depart. Then Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the short ribs, that the spear came out behind him: that he fell down in the same place and died there. And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. But Joab and Abishai followed Abner till the sun went down. And when they were come to the hill Ammah that lieth before Giah in the way that goeth through the wilderness of Gibeon, the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner on a plump and stood still on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour without end? Knowest thou not that bitterness is wont to come in the latter end? How long shall it be, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?" And Joab answered, "As truly as God liveth, if thou hadst so said, then even in the morning had the people departed, each from following his brother." And therewith Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more nor fought no more. And Abner and his men walked all that night by the wild fields, and went over Jordan, and passed through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from after Abner and gathered all the people together. And there lacked, of David's servants, nineteen persons and Asahel. But the servants of David had slain, of Benjamin and of Abner's men, three hundred and three score men. And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and came in the dawning to Hebron.
And Joab said to Amasa, "Are all things in rest and peace my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him.
Then there fell a hunger in the days of David: three years, year by year. And David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is for Saul's sake and the house of blood, because he slew the Gibeonites." And the king called the Gibeonites and spake unto them. Now these Gibeonites are not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites - and the children of Israel sware unto them. And yet Saul sought to slay them, for a zeal that he had to the children of Israel and of Judah.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
And so Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the hill altar of Gibeon: for there was the tabernacle of witness of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD made in the wilderness.
Next unto them builded Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizphah; where he that was captain on this side the water had a mansion.
they took their companions, and went out for to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the waters of Rabim in Gibeon.
they took their companions, and went out for to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the waters of Rabim in Gibeon.
Morish
Gib'eon
The leading city of the four which beguiled Joshua into making a league with them, on the plea of their being far distant. Jos 9:3-17. When the Amorites attacked Gibeon, because they had made peace with Israel, Joshua hastened to their deliverance, and to lengthen the daylight he said, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon." Jos 10:1-41. The city was afterwards given to Benjamin and made a Levitical city. Jos 18:25; 21:17. In the days of Solomon, before the temple was built, the tabernacle was pitched at Gibeon, and thither Solomon went and offered a thousand sacrifices, and there God appeared to him in a dream, and gave him the desire of his heart
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again, read more. and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared. And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us." And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?" And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, "What are ye, and whence come ye?" And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabiters of our country spake to us saying, 'Take victuals with you to serve by the way, and go against them, and say unto them: We are your servants.' Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us. This, our provision of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared. And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey." And the men took of their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them. But three days after they had made peace with them, they heard that they were neighbours unto them, and that they dwelt among them. For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim.
And when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had destroyed it, and how that as he had done to Jericho and her king, even so he had done to Ai and her king, and how the inhabiters of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and did remain among them: then they feared exceedingly, for Gibeon was a great city, as any city of the kingdom, and thereto greater than Ai, and all her men were mighty. read more. Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, "Come up unto me and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for they have made peace with Joshua and the children of Israel." Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon gathered themselves together, both they and all their hosts and went up and besieged Gibeon, and made war against it. But the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua unto the host to Gilgal, saying, "Withdraw not thy hands from thy servants, but come up to us: for all the kings of the Amorites which dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us." And Joshua ascended from Gilgal, both he and all the people of war with him, and all the men of might, and the LORD said unto Joshua, fear them not, for I have delivered them unto thine hand, there shall not a man of them stand before thee. And Joshua came unto them suddenly, and journeyed from Gilgal all night. And the LORD turmoiled them before Israel and slew of them a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron and slew them till they came to Azekah and Makkedah. And as they fled from Israel, even in the going down to Bethhoron, the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them, until they came unto Azekah, that they died. And there were more that died with hailstones, than the children of Israel slew with the sword. Then spake Joshua unto the LORD, the day when the LORD delivered the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of all Israel, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon." And the sun abode, and the moon stood still, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of the righteous, how that the sun abode in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down by the space of a whole day? And there was no day like that, before it, or after it, that the LORD obeyed the voice of a man: and all because the LORD fought for Israel. And Joshua returned and all Israel with him, unto the host to Gilgal: but the five kings fled and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, "The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah." And Joshua said, roll great stones unto the mouth of the cave and appoint men thereto, for to keep them. And stand ye not still, but follow after your enemies and smite the hindmost of them. And suffer them not to enter into their cities, for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hands. And when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a great slaughter till they were wasted, yet there remained a certain of them, which entered into walled cities. And all the people returned to the host, to Joshua at Makkedah in peace, so that no man durst move his tongue against the children of Israel. Then said Joshua, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out these five kings unto me out of the cave." And they did so, and brought those five kings unto him, out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. And when they had brought out those kings unto Joshua: Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war, which came with him, "Come near and put your feet upon the necks of these kings." And they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, "Fear not, nor dread: But be strong and pluck up your hearts, for so shall the LORD serve all your enemies against which ye fight." And then Joshua smote them and slew them and hanged them on five trees till evening. And at the going down of the sun, Joshua gave commandment, and they took them down off the trees and cast them into the cave, where they hid themselves, and laid great stones on the cave's mouth, which remain unto this day. And that same day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof also, and utterly destroyed them and all the souls that were therein, and let nought remain. And he did to the king of Makkedah, as he did to the king of Jericho. Then Joshua went from Makkedah, and all Israel with him unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah. And the LORD delivered it also into their hands, with the king also, and smote it with the edge of the sword and all the souls that were therein, and let nought remain in it, and did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho. After that, Joshua departed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and besieged it, and assaulted it. And the LORD delivered, into the hands of Israel, Lachish; that they took it the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he did to Libnah. Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish: But Joshua smote him and his people, until he left him nought remaining. And from Lachish, Joshua departed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him, and there besieged it, and assaulted it, and took it the same day, and smote it with the edge of the sword and all the souls that were therein: and utterly destroyed them the same day, according to all that he did to Lachish. Then Joshua departed up from Eglon and all Israel with him, unto Hebron. And they fought against it, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the towns that pertained to it, and all the souls that were therein, so that they left nought remaining: but in all things as they did to Eglon, so they destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein. Then Joshua returned and all Israel with him to Debir, and they fought against it, and took it, and the king thereof and all the towns that pertained thereto. And smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein, and let nought remain. And as he did to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and the king thereof, and as he did to Libnah and her king. And Joshua smote all the hill countries and the south countries, and the valleys, and the springs of water, with all their kings and let nought remain, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. And Joshua smote them from Kadesh Barnea, unto Gaza, and all the coasts of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
And out of the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with her suburbs; Geba with her suburbs;
And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the Pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one part on the one side the pool and the other on the other side.
And David did as the LORD commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gibeah to Gezer.
And when they were come to the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. And Joab had his garment that he had about him, gird unto him, and had girded thereon a knife joined fast to his loins, in such a sheath that as he went it fell sometimes out. And Joab said to Amasa, "Are all things in rest and peace my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him. read more. And Amasa took no heed to the knife that was in Joab's hand, with which Joab smote him in the short ribs, and shed out his bowels to the ground and smote him but one stroke, and he died. And then Joab and Abishai his brother followed after Sheba the son of Bichri.
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar. And in Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give thee."
And David did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
they took their companions, and went out for to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the waters of Rabim in Gibeon.
Then Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the Host that were with him, took the remnant of the people, whom Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had led away when he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom they also had rescued from him: fighting men, women and children, and gelded men: Whom they brought again from Gibeon.
Smith
Gib'eon
(hill city), one of the four , cities of the Hivites, the inhabitants of which made a league with Joshua,
and thus escaped the fate of Jericho and Ai. Comp. ch.
Gibeon lay within the territory of Benjamin, ch.
and with its "suburbs" was allotted to the priests, ch.
of whom it became afterwards a principal station. It retains its ancient name almost intact, el-Jib. Its distance from Jerusalem by the main road is about 6 1/2 miles; but there is a more direct road reducing it to five miles.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again, read more. and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared. And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us." And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?" And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, "What are ye, and whence come ye?" And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabiters of our country spake to us saying, 'Take victuals with you to serve by the way, and go against them, and say unto them: We are your servants.' Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us. This, our provision of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared. And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey." And the men took of their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them.
for there was no city that made peace with the children of Israel, save those Hittites that inhabited Gibeon. All other they took with battle,
And out of the tribe of Benjamin they gave Gibeon with her suburbs; Geba with her suburbs;
Watsons
GIBEON, the capital city of the Gibeonites, who took advantage of the oaths of Joshua, and of the elders of Israel, procured by an artful representation of their belonging to a very remote country, Joshua 9. Joshua and the elders had not the precaution to consult God on this affair, but inconsiderately made a league with these people. They soon discovered their mistake, and, without revoking their promise of saving their lives, they condemned them to labour in carrying wood and water for the tabernacle; and to other works, as slaves and captives; in which state of servitude they remained, till the entire dispersion of the Jewish nation, A.M. 2553; B.C. 1451. Three days after the Gibeonites had surrendered to the Hebrews, the kings of Canaan being informed of it, five of them came and besieged the city of Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent to Joshua, and desired speedy help. Joshua attacked the five kings early in the morning, put them to flight, and pursued them to Bethoron, Jos 10:3, &c. The Gibeonites were descended from the Hivites, the old inhabitants of the country, and possessed four cities: Cephirah, Beeroth, Kirjath-jearim, and Gibeon, their capital; all afterward given to Benjamin, except Kirjath- jearim, which fell to Judah. The Gibeonites continued subject to those burdens which Joshua imposed on them, and were very faithful to the Israelites. Nevertheless, Saul destroyed a great number of them, 2Sa 21:1; but God, in the reign of David, sent a great famine, which lasted three years, A.M. 2983; B.C. 1021; and the prophets told David that this calamity would continue while Saul's cruelty remained un-avenged. David asked the Gibeonites what satisfaction they desired. They answered, "Seven of Saul's sons we will put to death, to avenge the blood of our brethren." The Gibeonites crucified them. From this time there is no mention of the Gibeonites as a distinct people. But they were probably included among the Nethinim, appointed for the service of the temple, 1Ch 9:2. Afterward, those of the Canaanites who were subdued, and had their lives spared, were added to the Gibeonites. We see in Ezr 8:20; 2:58; 1Ki 9:20-21, that David, Solomon, and the princes of Judah, gave many such to the Lord; these Nethinim being carried into captivity with Judah and the Levites, many of them returned with Ezra, Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah, and continued, as before, in the service of the temple, under the priests and Levites. We neither know when, nor by whom, nor on what occasion, the tabernacle and altar of burnt sacrifices, made by Moses in the wilderness, were removed to Gibeon; but this we certainly know, that, toward the end of David's reign, and in the beginning of Solomon's, they were there, 1Ch 21:29-30. David, seeing an angel of the Lord at Araunah's threshing floor, was so terrified that he had not time or strength to go so far as Gibeon to offer sacrifice; but Solomon, being seated on the throne, went to sacrifice at Gibeon, 1Ki 3:4.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
Then there fell a hunger in the days of David: three years, year by year. And David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is for Saul's sake and the house of blood, because he slew the Gibeonites."
And the king went to Gibeon, to offer there: for that was a great offering place. And there Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.
And the old inhabiters that dwelt in their own possessions and cities were Israel, the priests, Levites and Nethinims.
For the tabernacle of the LORD which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were that season in the hill at Gibeon. And David could not go before it to seek God, because he was afraid of the sword of the Angel of the LORD.
All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were all together three hundred and two and ninety.
And of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes gave to minister unto the Levites, two hundred and twenty, all named by name.