Gibeon

If I chose only one word to summarize Gibeon, it would be deception. Gibeon is probably most famous, or rather infamous, for being the home of the people who deceived Joshua early in the Israelite conquest of the land of Canaan. According to 1 Chronicles 9:35-39, it was also the homeland of Saul’s family, Saul the king who suffered the absence of God’s Spirit. Most significantly though, it was home for many years to God’s prescribed tabernacle, even though the ark, the Presence of God Himself, was never within the holy of holies there. Gibeon represents the alliance of a lie, the king of God’s people apart from the Lord of God’s people, the outward appearance of God without the inward Presence of God. 

For the study guide on Gibeon:

Welcome to Gibeon.pdf (996,7 kB)