Ancient Biblical Site of Gibeon Explored Amidst Security Measures

A recent visit to the ancient site of Gibeon, known in Hebrew as Tel Gibeon, involved a heavily secured convoy of armored buses and jeeps. The journey to the site, located in Area C, necessitated passage through the Palestinian village of Al-Jib, requiring the security detail due to the proximity of the separation fence. The site itself is rich in biblical history, mentioned numerous times in the Tanakh and by the Sages. It is famously the location where Joshua commanded the sun to stand still. The author describes descending into a magnificent ancient water tunnel and a large, impressive rock-hewn pool, identified as "the pool in Gibeon" mentioned in the Book of Samuel. This pool was the site of a confrontation between the forces of Abner and Joab, marking the beginning of the prolonged war between the houses of Saul and David. The site also features another impressive water system, a tunnel with 93 steps and niches for oil lamps, as well as wine presses and 63 underground cellars. Archaeological excavations, notably by James Pritchard in the 1950s, uncovered pottery handles inscribed with the ancient Hebrew name "Gibeon," confirming its identity. The pool is estimated to be 11.5 meters in diameter and about 25 meters deep, with 79 spiral steps leading to the spring. The tour was led by Israel researcher Meir Rotter, who has written a book on the subject and is intimately familiar with the site. The article notes that while pomegranate and olive trees grow around the site, the pomegranates are left unharvested and fall to the ground, with the author collecting some to eat later. The visit was facilitated by Benjamin Tourism, Kobi Mamo, and Michal Erlich.