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least, to any who had learned to realize the essential enmity of heathenism against the
kingdom of God, and who understood that so great a change as the report of these men
implied could not be brought about by "the hearing of the ear." Besides, what they
proposed was not to make submission to, but a league with, Israel: by which not merely
life, but their land and liberty, would be secured to them.^100 But against any league with
the inhabitants of Canaan, Israel had been specially warned (Exodus 23:32; 34:12;
Numbers 33:55; Deuteronomy 7:2). What if, after all, they were neighbors? The
suspicion seems to have crossed the minds of Joshua and of the elders, and even to have
been expressed by them, only to be set aside by the protestations of the pretended
ambassadors. It was certainly a mark of religious superficiality and self-confidence on
the part of the elders of Israel to have consented on such grounds to "a league." The
sacred text significantly puts it: "And the men (the elders of Israel) took of their victuals
(according to the common Eastern fashion of eating bread and salt with a guest who is
received as a friend), but they asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah."
Their mistake soon became apparent. Three days later, and Israel found that the
pretended foreigners were in reality neighbors! Meanwhile, the kings or chieftains who
ruled in Western Palestine had been concerting against Israel a combined movement of
their forces from "the hills," or highlands of Central Palestine, from "the valleys," or the
Shephelah (low country), between the mountain-chain and the sea, and "from the coasts
of the great sea over against Lebanon," that is, from Joppa northwards by the sea-shore.
The existence of the small confederate republic of Gibeon with its three associate cities
in the midst of small monarchies throws a curious light upon the state of Palestine at the
time; and the jealousy which would naturally exist between them helps to explain alike
the policy of the Gibeonites, and the revenge which the Canaanitish kings were shortly
afterwards preparing to take. The history of the republic of Gibeon is interesting.
"Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities.... greater than Ai, and all the men
thereof were mighty" (Joshua 10:2).
Its inhabitants were "Hivites" (11:19). Afterwards Gibeon fell to the lot of Benjamin,
and became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17). When Nob was destroyed by Saul, the
tabernacle was transported to Gibeon, where it remained till the temple was built by
Solomon (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29; 1 Kings 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1:3).^101 It lay about two
hours to the north-west of Jerusalem, and is represented by the modern village of el-Jib.
Its three associate towns were Chephirah, about three hours' west from Gibeon, the
modern Kefir; Beeroth, about ten miles north of Jerusalem, the modern el-Bireh - both
cities afterwards within the possession of Benjamin; and Kirjath-Jearim, "the city of
groves," probably so called from its olive, fig, and other plantations, as its modern
representative, Kuriet-el-Enab, is from its vineyards. The latter city, which was
afterwards allotted to Judah, is about three hours from Jerusalem; and there the Ark
(^)