Gibeon
Gibeon is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as El Jib. It appears across 39 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Gibeon was one of the most important Canaanite cities of the central highlands, occupying a strategically elevated position northwest of Jerusalem. It enters biblical history dramatically in Joshua 9, when its inhabitants — recognizing the power of Israel's God — resorted to deception, presenting themselves as distant travelers to secure a peace treaty with Joshua. Exposed but bound by oath, Israel spared the Gibeonites and assigned them the role of woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and the altar (Joshua 9:27). Gibeon subsequently became an Israelite protectorate, and its defense triggered the great battle of Joshua 10, during which Joshua commanded the sun to stand still over Gibeon. During David's reign, Gibeon hosted the confrontation between Joab's and Abner's men at the pool of Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:12–17). Most significantly, the tabernacle and the bronze altar rested at Gibeon during much of the pre-temple period (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29), making it the principal high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings there and received his famous dream granting wisdom (1 Kings 3:4–15). Jeremiah 28 records a confrontation at Gibeon between Jeremiah and the false prophet Hananiah.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Gibeon is securely identified with El Jib, located approximately nine kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. James B. Pritchard's excavations (1956–1962) produced extraordinary confirmation of the biblical identification: sixty-plus wine jar handles inscribed with the name 'Gibeon' (gb'n) in ancient Hebrew script, representing the most extensive epigraphic find yet from a single Israelite site. Pritchard also uncovered the famous water system — a cylindrical shaft approximately eleven meters in diameter cut into bedrock, leading to a stepped tunnel that accessed the water table — which corresponds precisely to 'the pool of Gibeon' mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:13. Additional Iron Age remains, including storage chambers and city walls, confirm Gibeon's status as a major urban center throughout the monarchic period.
Verse Appearances (39)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →