GIBEON - A prominent city of Benjamin N. of Jerusalem. The men of Gibeon, fearing an attack by Joshua, obtained through a ruse a covenant of peace with the Israelites (Jos.9). When the deception was discovered the Gibeonites were cursed and assigned a place of perpetual servitude. Gibeon is mentioned with Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim (Jos.9.17) and its people are called Hivites in Jos.9.7 and 11.19. The 'pool of Gibeon' is the scene of the contest between the forces of David under Joab and those of Saul's son Ishbosheth led by Abner (2 S.2.12-18). Twelve men from each side transfixed their opponents with swords at Hilkath-hazzurim, 'the field of sword-edges.' Amasa was slaughtered by Joab at 'the great stone which is in Gibeon' (2 S.20.8-10). Seven sons of Saul were hanged by the Gibeonites (2 S.21.1-9). Solomon offered sacrifices at the great high place of Gibeon (1 K.3.4) and it was the place where he had his famous dream (1 K.3.5-15). The false prophet Hananiah, who opposed Jeremiah, was from Gibeon (Jer.28.1). Jer.41.12 mentions the 'great pool which is in Gibeon' in connexion with the flight of the remnant from Jerusalem after the attack and destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The men of Gibeon were among those who helped rebuild the wall of Jerusalem in the 5th cent. (Neh.3.7). The city is mentioned in a list of King Shishak (Sheshonk i.) of the 10th cent. According to Josephus, Cestius pitched his camp there in AD 66.
Although Gibeon has long been identified with el-Jib, 6 miles N. of Jerusalem, the American excavations at the site in 1956 and 1957 have produced twenty-four jar handles inscribed with the name 'Gibeon' in the archaic Hebrew script of the 7th cent. The inscriptions on handles also contained the names Amariah, Azariah, Hananiah, Nera, Domla, and Shubel, apparently citizens of the town. A cylindrical pool or stair well cut from solid rock, 37 feet in diameter and equipped with a circular stairway of seventy-nine steps which led down to a spring 82 feet below the surface was a part of the extensive water system of the city. A second access to water was had through a stepped tunnel which extended for 167 feet from inside the wall to the spring which flowed from the base of the mound below. There are ninety-three steps cut into the rock floor of this passageway. These installations substantiate the reputation which Gibeon had in the Biblical passages for its water (2 S.2.13, Jer.41.12).[Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963 - J.B.P.]