A covenant Israel kept
After hearing what Israel had done at Jericho and Ai, the Gibeonites feared for their future. They put on worn clothing and carried old provisions, pretending that they had travelled from a faraway land so Israel would make peace with them (Joshua 9:3-6).
Israel's leaders accepted their story and made a covenant with them without first seeking the Lord's guidance (Joshua 9:14-15). Three days later, they learned the truth. Still, Joshua and Israel's leaders did not break their oath. The Gibeonites were spared and assigned work connected with the congregation and the altar (Joshua 9:22-27). Gibeon shows that a promise made before God was not something Israel could casually set aside, even though it had been gained through deception.
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
The battle at Gibeon
Gibeon's peace with Israel made the city a target. Five Amorite kings joined forces against it because Gibeon was an important city and its people had made peace with Joshua and Israel (Joshua 10:1-5). Joshua marched through the night to help them, honouring the covenant Israel had made.
The battle became one of the most striking events in Joshua's story. The Lord routed Israel's enemies, and great hailstones fell on them as they fled (Joshua 10:10-11). Joshua then asked for the sun to stand still over Gibeon, and the passage describes an extraordinary day in which the Lord fought for Israel (Joshua 10:12-14). Christians have asked how this miracle happened, but the passage's central point is clear: God gave decisive help to his people.
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
A place of worship
Long after Joshua's day, Gibeon became significant in Israel's worship. During David's reign, the tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering were at Gibeon. Zadok the priest and his fellow priests ministered there, while David arranged worship before the ark in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:39-40).
This was a transitional period before Solomon built the temple. Gibeon was known as the principal high place, meaning a prominent place where sacrifices were offered (1 Kings 3:4). In this setting, its worship was connected with the tabernacle and altar of Israel's established worship.
Where Solomon asked for wisdom
Early in his reign, Solomon went to Gibeon and offered sacrifices there. That night, God appeared to him in a dream and invited him to ask for what he desired (1 Kings 3:4-5). It was a searching question. What would a young king choose?
Solomon did not first ask for a long life, wealth, or victory over his enemies. He asked for an understanding heart so he could lead and judge God's people well (1 Kings 3:9). God approved of that request and gave Solomon wisdom, along with riches and honour (1 Kings 3:10-13).
So Gibeon is more than a place name. It recalls a covenant that was kept, a battle in which God helped Israel, worship before the temple, and a king who sought wisdom for the people he served. When difficult responsibilities lie ahead, Solomon's prayer at Gibeon is a good place to begin reading and reflecting.
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?