Joshua 21:17
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
Original Language Analysis
וּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה
And out of the tribe
H4294
וּמִמַּטֵּ֣ה
And out of the tribe
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
1 of 10
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
בִנְיָמִ֔ין
of Benjamin
H1144
בִנְיָמִ֔ין
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
2 of 10
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִגְרָשֶֽׁהָ׃
with her suburbs
H4054
מִגְרָשֶֽׁהָ׃
with her suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
6 of 10
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Gibeon (el-Jib), 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem, was excavated revealing a remarkable water system—a massive pool cut 35 feet into bedrock with a spiral staircase descending 80 feet to the water table. This may be the "pool of Gibeon" where Joab and Abner's forces met (2 Samuel 2:12-17). Geba (Jeba), 6 miles north of Jerusalem, controlled the strategic Wadi Suweinit pass. Both cities formed part of Benjamin's northern defensive line against Israel.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Gibeon's transformation from city of deception to place of divine revelation illustrate the gospel's power to redeem our failures?
- Why did God place Levitical cities in Benjamin, the smallest tribe wedged between Judah and Ephraim?
- What does the tabernacle's long residence at Gibeon teach about God working through imperfect circumstances?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs (מִמַּטֵּה בִנְיָמִן אֶת־גִּבְעוֹן וְאֶת־גֵּבַע, mimateh Vinyamin et-Givon ve'et-Geva)—The shift to Benjamin introduces cities of immense historical significance. Gibeon, whose inhabitants deceived Joshua into a treaty (Joshua 9), became a high place where Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings and received divine wisdom (1 Kings 3:4-15). That this city of deception became a venue for divine revelation demonstrates God's sovereign purposes transcending human failure. The tabernacle remained at Gibeon during David's and early Solomon's reign (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29).
Geba (not to be confused with Gibeah) served as the northern border of Judah (2 Kings 23:8) and witnessed Jonathan's heroic assault on the Philistine garrison (1 Samuel 14:1-15). These strategic Benjamite cities, allocated to priests, created a spiritual corridor between Judah and northern tribes.