The Sanctuary of the Gibeonites Revisited

Abstract

The article examines three biblical narratives in which the city of Gibeon and its inhabitants play a major role ( Joshua 9; II Sam 21:1-14; I Kgs 3:3-15a). It is suggested that Gibeon's sanctuary played-directly or by inference-a signifi cant role in the plot of the three stories. The story of Joshua's treaty with the Gibeonites, ostensibly describing an event in the conquest of Canaan, in reality refl ects a hidden Deuteronomistic satirical polemic whose background must be sought in the time of its Jerusalemite author of the late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE. The polemic's stimulus lies in a Gibeonite reaction to Josiah's cancellation of their sanctuary in the time of the author. Clarifying the relation of the Jerusalem and Gibeon temples is important for understanding the rise of the former, as well as the absence of the latter in the Dtr historiography.

Polemical propaganda of the Golah community against the Gibeonites: Historical background of Joshua 9 and 2 Samuel 21 in the early Persian Period

“…Na'aman claimed, accordingly, that 21.2b-3a should be a parenthesis or Wideraufnahme. 67 However, David is reported as ‫'המלך'‬ after 21.3 along with ‫'לו'‬ (to him) (21.4,5,7). Although 21.1 and 3 lack an explanation as to why YHWH criticized Saul for his bloody behavior, 21.2 alone reports that the reason was none other than to break the treaty.…”

The Judahite Temple at Tel Moẓa near Jerusalem: The House of Obed-Edom?

“…In an article published some years ago (Naʼaman 2009), I discussed the history of the Gibeon temple in light of biblical sources. The point of departure for my study was the reference to the temple in the history of Solomon.…”