For Israel
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For Israel |
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Samuel's Mountain is located on the main road between modern day Ramot and Givat Zeev. One looks down from the mountain on Ramot and Jerusalem to the south-east.
At the time of the Israelite's entry into Canaan, Gibeon was the chief city of the Hivite confederacy. Other cities of their's were Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-Jearim. In 2 Samuel 21:2, however, the Gibeonites are called Amorites. It appears that the name Amorite was |
| used as a general term for all non-Israelis remaining in the land, especially in later writings. Gibeon was made a Levitical city. It was founded in this location because of its excellent water supply of 8 springs, and an underground reservoir. It is only 5 miles (9 km), from Jerusalem and is 2,533 ft (772m) above sea level. Apart from the excellent view over Jerusalem, one can see on a clear day from |  |
| this high place, to the Mediterranean in the west and the Mountains of Moab in the east.
Due to its view over the Aijalon Valley, an approach to Jerusalem, it is of major strategic importance. It also offers a vantage point to guard the Jerusalem-Jaffa road. Its strategic value is als o clear from the following: As we see from 2 Chronicles 16, the beleagaring of the road to Jerusalem created such a problem for king Asa of Judah that he resorted to using silver and gold from the temple and his house to persuade king Ben-Hadad of Syria to break his alliance with king Baasha of Israel. At the time this document was prepared for this website, there still was an Arab village called El-Jib, on the mountain. There were also some Bedouin encampments. It was the Gibeonites who deceived Israel into signing a peace treaty (Joshua 9) and thereafter served Israel as wood cutters and water bearers as punishment for the deception. The Lord nevertheless respected this treaty in spite of the fact he had forbidden the Israelites to enter into treaties with the inhabitants of the land - it still applies to our day. When the Amorite coalition headed by Adoni Tzedek of Jerusalem tried to retaliate against the Gibeonites over their peace treaty, Joshua intervened and defeated them with the Lord's help - by lengthening the day, and raining down hailstones. (Joshua 10). After Saul's death, a battle took place there for supremacy between the house of Saul and the house of David. For the first 7 years, David only reigned over Judah, while IshBosheth, Saul's son ruled over Israel. Early in this contest their armies clashed at the pool of Gibeon. Judah's army, under the command of Joab, defeated IshBosheth's army led by Abner. (2 Samuel 2:1 2-32). Joab only lost 20 men, while 360 Benjaminites in Abner's army were killed. As a result of this slaughter, the place was called Helkathhazzurim, or the field of sword edges. Later, during the northern revolt led by Sheba, Joab killed his rival, Amasa, at the large stone of Gibeon. (2 Samuel 19:13.20:1-12). Grave deception was involved, since Joab appeared to be coming with a greeting of peace, but then thrust his sword into the stomach of his unwary opponent. During David's reign, there was a three year drought in the land. When David sought the Lord about it, he was told that it was due to Saul's failure to honour the Gibeonite treaty. David made amends by allowing the Gibeonites to hang 7 of Saul's Sons. (2 Samuel 21:6). The prophet Jeremiah also had dealings with someone from Gibeon, namely the prophet Hananiah whom he denounced for bringing a false prophesy.(Jeremiah 28). After Nebuchadnezzar had deported some of the people of Judah to Babylon, Gedaliah was appointed governor of Mizpah. A Jewish rebel, Ishmael murdered him and escaped with many captives. He was chased to the pool of Gibeon where the captives were released, but Ishmael escaped (Jeremiah 41:11-15). Some Gibeonites helped to rebuild the temple upon their return from their exile. (Nehemiah 3:7). It seems that Saul's ancestors had come from Gibeon. (1 Chronicles 8:29, 9:35). In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. In Egyptian documents about this offensive, Gibeon was also involved. Josephus related that Gibeon was the closest Cestius, the Roman governor of Syria, managed to get in his attempt to capture Jerusalem in 66AD. It bears out the strategic importance of Gibeon or Samuel's Mountain in the defense of Jerusalem. Contrary to the small Arab village that is still there today, it was a thriving city 3,500 years ago; in fact, the most important city in the area. (Joshua 10:2). Before David had erected a Tabernacle in Jerusalem, burnt offerings to the Lord were done on the altar at the high place on Gibeon, which were actually continued after the Ark of the Lord had been moved. (1 Chronicles 16:39-40 David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel). It was at Gibeon that Solomon received the dream in which God asked him what he desired, and he chose wisdom. (2 Chronicles 1:7-13, 1 Kings 3:4-15). |
Samuel's TombIn 6 AD, the remains of a city that were found on the high place at Gibeon, close to the burial site of Samuel, were identified as those of Ramah. Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD) built a fortified monastery over a former Hasmonean building site. In 1099 AD, the |
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Crusaders reached Gibeon and had their first glimpse of the Holy City from there. Their happiness remains entrenched in the popular name for the mountain of 'Mount Joy'. It was a place of pilgrimage for Jews and Christians in the late Middle Ages. In 1157 AD a church was built at the site. Richard the Lionheart made it thus far but no further in 1192. The monastery was demolished in 1219, but the church survived until the 18th Century, when |
| it was replaced by a mosque. The present building was erected in 1911, damaged in the battles of 1917, and restored during the British Mandate. The British came this way in their ascent to Jerusalem during WW1. The Israelis failed to take it in 1948, but succeeded in 1967. There is also a quarry at the site and a Byzantine winepress and a Mamluk smelter and stables. It was a Jordanian military camp from 1948, until the Jews captured it in 1967.
It is a very important pilgrimage site for Orthodox Jews. |
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ARCHAEOLOGY
Excavations in 1838 and 1956-66 confirmed that el-Jib must have been the location of ancient Gibeon. In 1956 a pool was discovered inside the city walls. It probably provided a catchment for rainwater to supplement groundwater. It went out of use after the fall of Jerusalem. A water tunnel was also found that connected a spring to the main city, presumably to supplement it's supply of water. Pottery found at the site dates from CI2/C11 BC to C6 BC. Gibeon's economy apparently depended on grapes and winemaking, as many wine presses, utensils and storage bottles were found. Most of the wine seemed to have been exported.
CONCLUSIONS
Due to its view over the Aijalon Valley, an approach to Jerusalem, it is of major strategic importance. Many battles were therefore fought for its control over many centuries, including that between the houses of Saul and David, Muslims and Crusaders, etc.
Gibeon is one God's most important high places. No wonder the Ark of the covenant was accommodated there before David erected a tabernacle in Jerusalem. The Lord also chose it to be a Levitical town. It will be remembered in history as having been Samuel's home. Gibeon being such an important high place to the Lord, there was a tremendous "presence" of God and his power that enhanced the anointing on the prophets on the mountain. No wonder it was where the gift of prophesy fell on Saul and where Solomon met the Lord and received the promise of special wisdom.
Due to its springs, there was enough water to accommodate a large community. The availability of water also enabled the production of agricultural products, especially grapes and wine. It was a place of joy and a place of pilgrimage, continued up to this day especially by Orthodox Jews. It being an important high place for the God of the Jews, the god of Islam (Allah) also laid
claim to it, which led toa Byzantine church at Samuel's grave being changed into a mosque. It is still therefore a place of great tension between Jews and Muslims. The same demonic spirits still try to usurp power and control the mountain, of which also religious spirits. May it once again become a mountain of joy and produce the good wine of the Spirit of the Lord that will spread over Israel, the Middle East and even the world.
