The Gibeonites were a group of people who inhabited the city of Gibeon, located in the central region of Canaan. They are most notably recognized for their interaction with the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. The Gibeonites are first introduced in the Book of Joshua, where they are described as a Hivite people (Joshua 9:7).

Deceptive Treaty with Israel

The Gibeonites are best known for their cunning strategy to secure a peace treaty with the Israelites. Aware of the Israelites' victories over Jericho and Ai, the Gibeonites feared for their survival. To protect themselves, they resorted to deception. They disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land, wearing worn-out clothes and carrying moldy bread, and approached Joshua and the leaders of Israel at Gilgal. They requested a covenant of peace, claiming to be from a far-off country (Joshua 9:3-6).

Joshua and the Israelites, without seeking counsel from the LORD, were deceived by the Gibeonites' appearance and account. Consequently, they made a treaty with them, swearing an oath to let them live (Joshua 9:14-15). Three days later, the Israelites discovered that the Gibeonites were actually their neighbors, living within the land of Canaan (Joshua 9:16-17).

Servitude and Protection

Despite the deception, the Israelites honored their oath due to the sacredness of their promise before God. However, the Gibeonites were subjected to servitude as a consequence of their deceit. Joshua declared them to be "woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD" (Joshua 9:27). This role was to be perpetual, serving the needs of the tabernacle and later the temple.

The Gibeonites' treaty with Israel also meant that they were under Israel's protection. This became evident when five Amorite kings formed an alliance to attack Gibeon. The Gibeonites called upon Joshua for help, and he led the Israelites to a miraculous victory, aided by divine intervention, including the famous event where the sun stood still (Joshua 10:6-14).

Role in Israel's History

The Gibeonites continued to play a role in Israel's history. During the reign of King Saul, there was a breach of the treaty when Saul sought to annihilate them, which later resulted in a famine during the reign of King David. To atone for Saul's actions and to lift the famine, David sought the LORD's guidance and handed over seven of Saul's descendants to the Gibeonites, who executed them (2 Samuel 21:1-9).

The Gibeonites are also mentioned in the context of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. Men from Gibeon were among those who repaired the walls, indicating their continued integration into the community of Israel (Nehemiah 3:7).

Spiritual Significance

The account of the Gibeonites serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking God's guidance in decision-making. The Israelites' failure to consult the LORD before making a treaty with the Gibeonites led to unforeseen consequences. Additionally, the account illustrates God's mercy and faithfulness, as He honored the covenant made in His name, despite the circumstances of its inception. The Gibeonites, though initially deceptive, became part of the Israelite community and served in the house of the LORD, demonstrating God's ability to incorporate even the most unlikely individuals into His divine plan.6698. Tsur -- "rock," a Midianite, also a Gibeonite
... 6697, 6698. Tsur. 6699 . "rock," a Midianite, also a Gibeonite. Transliteration:
Tsur Phonetic Spelling: (tsoor) Short Definition: Zur. ...
/hebrew/6698.htm - 6k

4424a. Melatyah -- "Yah delivered," a Gibeonite
... 4424, 4424a. Melatyah. 4424b . "Yah delivered," a Gibeonite. Transliteration:
Melatyah Short Definition: Melatiah. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/4424a.htm - 5k

4424. Mlatyah -- "Yah delivered," a Gibeonite
... 4423, 4424. Mlatyah. 4424a . "Yah delivered," a Gibeonite. Transliteration:
Mlatyah Phonetic Spelling: (mel-at-yaw') Short Definition: Melatiah. Melatiah ...
/hebrew/4424.htm - 5k

1393. Giboni -- inhab. of Gibeon
... of Gibeon NASB Word Usage Gibeonite (2), Gibeonites (6). Gibeonite. Patrial from
Gib'own; a Gibonite, or inhabitant of Gibon -- Gibeonite. see HEBREW Gib'own. ...
/hebrew/1393.htm - 6k

Conflicts with Giant Mistake
... Really he is not a true Anakim, but a Gibeonite, who are foes until they are conquered,
and then they become hewers of wood and drawers of water for us"they ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter eight conflicts with giant.htm

Joshua
... A renewed assault upon Ai was this time successful.[1] (viii.). Fear of Israel induced
the powerful Gibeonite clan to make a league with the conquerors (ix.). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joshua.htm

Spiritual Liberty
... A poor slave, a mere Gibeonite, hewing wood and drawing water. If I could
have left off doing it, I should have loved to do so. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/spiritual liberty.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Ezekiel 46:16,17; John 8:35). So then, as a son, thou art an Israelite; as
a servant, a Gibeonite. The consideration of this made Paul ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... [5269] [5270] To this we may add the pride with which Judaism looked back upon the
150,000 Gibeonite converts said to have been made whem David avenged the sin ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Gibeonite (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gibeonite (2 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 12:4 and
Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and ...
/g/gibeonite.htm - 7k

Gib'eonite (1 Occurrence)
Gib'eonite. Gibeonite, Gib'eonite. Gibeonites . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
RSV). Gibeonite, Gib'eonite. Gibeonites . Reference Bible.
/g/gib'eonite.htm - 6k

Ishmaiah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Heard by Jehovah. (1.) A Gibeonite who joined David at
Ziklag, "a hero among the thirty and over the thirty" (1 Chronicles 12:4). ...
/i/ishmaiah.htm - 8k

Melatiah (1 Occurrence)
... MELATIAH. mel-a-ti'-a (melatyah, "Yah's deliverance"): A Gibeonite who assisted
in building the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:7). ...
/m/melatiah.htm - 7k

Gibeon (39 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 12:4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and
over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the ...
/g/gibeon.htm - 31k

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)
... City of jaars; ie, of woods or forests, a Gibeonite town (Joshua 9:17) on the
border of Benjamin, to which tribe it was assigned (18:15, 28). ...
/k/kirjath-jearim.htm - 13k

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)
... City of jaars; ie, of woods or forests, a Gibeonite town (Joshua 9:17) on the
border of Benjamin, to which tribe it was assigned (18:15, 28). ...
/k/kirjathjearim.htm - 13k

Nadab (21 Occurrences)
... brothers was drunkenness. (2) A descendant of Jerahmeel (1 Chronicles
2:28, 30). (3) A Gibeonite (1 Chronicles 8:30). (4) Son of ...
/n/nadab.htm - 16k

Jahaziel (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 12:4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and
over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the ...
/j/jahaziel.htm - 10k

Joha'nan (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 12:4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty one among the thirty, and
over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the ...
/j/joha'nan.htm - 13k

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