Gibeon
LocationsGeographical Setting
An ancient Canaanite city situated on the border between the tribal territories of Benjamin and Ephraim, known for its strategic hilltop position and large water system.
What is the meaning of Gibeon in the Bible?
Gibeon was a prominent Hivite city-state located in the central highlands, strategically positioned between Jerusalem and the coastal plain. The inhabitants negotiated a peace treaty with the Israelite leadership through deceptive means, which was honored despite the fraud. Later, under King David, the site became the location of a significant military encounter and housed a major cultic sanctuary containing the bronze serpent before its destruction by Hezekiah.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Gibeon provides insight into the complex political landscape of early Iron Age Canaan, illustrating how local city-states navigated the expansion of Israelite tribes through diplomacy and treaty-making rather than solely through military conquest.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.