Melchizedek established the region of Israel and the City of David as the land was deeded to him. Melchizedek is also known as Shem, Noah’s son. Melchizedek lived in Salem/Shalem/Jerusalem during the time of Abraham. If we remember our history, Abraham grew up living with Shem and Noah in order to avoid being killed by Nimrod. Shem and some of his descendants established themselves in the area known today as Jerusalem. They lived among the Canaanites who were Ham’s descendants. The Canaanites had no legal rights to the land and knew that they would be further cursed for living there, but they chose to live on Shem’s portion of land anyway. Abraham, who lived in Hebron, married a Canaanite woman and had six sons with her, further muddying the waters of who rightfully established Jerusalem. As we go through history we understand that there are many twists and turns, and nothing is black and white. David took the established city of Jebus and called it the City of David. From this point forward it is recognized as Jerusalem or Zion, but originally it was Jebus, a Jebusite city surrounded by the Israelites. The name Jerusalem is a combined name of Jebus and Salem. The Jebusites were not driven out of their land but remained there until David assimilated them into Israel. Gibeon was the high place of worship even after David brought the ark into the City of David. Once the temple was finished the ark moved into the temple which was next to the City of David. The hill that the City of David existed on was torn down by the Romans, stone by stone around 70 AD, so that there is no longer a hill or mount of Zion.
War of the Jews 6:10:1 (435) And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpieus [Elul]. It had been taken five times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; (436) for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sossius and Herod took the city, but still preserved it; (437) but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and six months after it was built. (438) But he who first built it was a potent man among the Canaanites, and is on our tongue called [Melchisedek], the Righteous King, for such he really was; on which account he was [there] the first priest of God, and first built a temple [there], and called the city Jerusalem, which was formerly called Salem. (439) However, David the king of the Jews, ejected the Canaanites, and settled his own people therein. It was demolished entirely by the Babylonians, four hundred and seventy-seven years and six months after him. (440) And from king David, who was the first of the Jews who reigned therein, to this destruction under Titus, were one thousand one hundred and seventy-nine years;
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 750.
Shem was living in the region since at least the 41st Jubilee year, 2044 BC. We do not know exactly when the city was built, but Shem/Melchizedek was there at the time of Abraham, and all through the time that Isaac and Jacob studied with Shem in the tents of Shem, and all throughout the 400 years of Jacob’s sons in Egypt.
Jasher 16:11 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. 12 Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 205). (Function). Kindle Edition.
The Sodomites were bastardized people living corruptly and without morals as they were heirs of the Nephil. Lot was living on the outskirts of the region of the five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, Zebiom, and Zohar. Four kings were ethnically cleansing the heirs of the Nephilim in the region. They came to the five cities of the salt sea and took Lot, along with all his possessions, and the people of the five cities and their possessions. Abraham went to free Lot and took back all the people and possessions that were captured. Lot and his family moved into the city of Sodom. The five cities of the salt sea then continued in their corrupt living and evil ways.
Antiquities of the Jews 1:10:179 2. So Abram, when he had saved the captive Sodomites who had been taken by the Assyrians, and Lot also, his kinsman, returned home in peace. Now the king of Sodom met him at a certain place, which they called The King’s Dale, (180) where Melchizedek, king of the city Salem, received him. That name insomuch that, on this account, he was made the priest of God: however, they afterward called Salem Jerusalem. (181) Now this Melchizedek supplied Abram’s army in an hospitable manner, and gave them provisions in abundance; and as they were feasting he began to praise him, and to bless God for subduing his enemies under him. And when Abram gave him the tenth part of his prey, he accepted of the gift:
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 39.
This is the history of the region we know as Jerusalem. Jerusalem was in Shem’s portion of land, Shem and Eber had a school there which Isaac and Jacob attended. Now we parse this out to understand that there were many people in this area, most heirs of Shem, some heirs of Canaan, and of course the people born to Abraham and Keturah, and other mixed races. Nonetheless, the first priest in the region was Shem, the first temple built in that region was built by Shem. It would seem that modern people believe that the first temple was built by Solomon, and they erase Shem’s temple. The first temple in Salem was built by Shem/Melchizedek and the people of the first century knew about it.
When the Israelites were entering the land of Canaan they were extracting the inhabitants from the land and claiming it for Jacob’s heirs. The Gibeonites, from Gibeon/Gabaon heard what was taking place and were smart. They convinced Joshua that they would serve Israel, and they did. These people are heirs of Shem. Gibeon/Gabaon is about five miles from Salem/Jerusalem.
Jos 9:1 (Brenton) And when the kings of the Amorites on the other side of Jordan, who were in the mountain country, and in the plain, and in all the coast of the great sea, and those who were near Antilibanus, and the Chettites, and the Chananites, and the Pherezites, and the Evites, and the Amorites, and the Gergesites, and the Jebusites, heard of it,
Jos 9:2 they came all together at the same time to make war against Joshua and Israel.
Jos 9:3 And the inhabitants of Gabaon heard of all that the Lord did to Jericho and Gai.
Jos 9:4 And they also wrought craftily, and they went and made provision and prepared themselves; and having taken old sacks on their shoulders, and old and rent and patched bottles of wine,
The word craftily is the word panourgia meaning either “trickery” in a bad sense or “prudence, skill, and astuteness” in a good sense.This is what saved them. If they had truly been evil, they would not have been tasked with woodworking for the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of worship would not have been in Gibeon/Gabaon, serviced by their priests.
Jos 9:5 and the upper part of their shoes and their sandals old and clouted on their feet, and their garments old upon them—and the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy and corrupt.
Jos 9:6 And they came to Joshua into the camp of Israel to Galgala, and said to Joshua and Israel, We are come from a far land: now then make a covenant with us.
Jos 9:7 And the children of Israel said to the Chorrhaean, Peradventure thou dwellest amongst us; and how should I make a covenant with thee?
Jos 9:8 And they said to Joshua, We are thy servants: and Joshua said to them, Whence are ye, and whence have ye come?
Jos 9:9 And they said, Thy servants are come from a very far country in the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard his name, and all that he did in Egypt,
Jos 9:10 and all that he did to the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond Jordan, to Seon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Basan, who dwelt in Astaroth and in Edrain.
Jos 9:11 And our elders and all that inhabit our land when they heard spoke to us, saying, Take to yourselves provision for the way, and go to meet them; and ye shall say to them, We are thy servants, and now make a covenant with us.
Jos 9:12 These are the loaves—we took them hot for our journey on the day on which we came out to come to you; and now they are dried and become mouldy.
Jos 9:13 And these are the skins of wine which we filled when new, and they are rent; and our garments and our shoes are worn out because of the very long journey.
Jos 9:14 And the chiefs took of their provision, and asked not counsel of the Lord.
They made a covenant together.
Jos 9:15 And Joshua made peace with them, and they made a covenant with them to preserve them; and the princes of the congregation sware to them.
Jos 9:16 And it came to pass three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were near neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
Jos 9:17 And the children of Israel departed and came to their cities; and their cities were Gabaon, and Kephira, and Berot, and the cities of Jarin.
Jos 9:18 Land the children of Israel fought not with them, because all the princes sware to them by the Lord God of Israel; and all the congregation murmured at the princes.
Jos 9:19 And the princes said to all the congregation: We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, and now we shall not be able to touch them.
Jos 9:20 This we will do; take them alive, and we will preserve them: so there shall not be wrath against us by reason of the oath which we swore to them.
Jos 9:21 They shall live, and shall be hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the princes said to them.
Now comes the understanding. The Gibeonites heard that the Elohim had charged Moses to give the Israelites the land. They knew they would be slaughtered if they did not make a covenant with Israel. Yet they are the original owners of the land.
Jos 9:22 And Joshua called them together and said to them, Why have ye deceived me, saying, We live very far from you; whereas ye are fellow-countrymen of those who dwell among us?
Jos 9:23 And now ye are cursed: there shall not fail of you a slave, or a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water to me and my God.
Jos 9:24 And they answered Joshua, saying, It was reported to us what the Lord thy God charged his servant Moses, to give you this land, and to destroy us and all that dwelt on it from before you; and we feared very much for our lives because of you, and therefore we did this thing.
Jos 9:25 And now, behold, we are in your power; do to us as it is pleasing to you, and as it seems good to you.
Jos 9:26 And they did so to them; and Joshua rescued them in that day out of the hands of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them.
Jos 9:27 And Joshua made them in that day hewers of wood and drawers of water to the whole congregation, and for the altar of God: therefore the inhabitants of Gabaon became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the altar of God until this day, even for the place which the Lord should choose.
Jos 9:30 Then Joshua built an alter to the Lord God of Israel in mount Gebal,
Jos 9:31 as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it was written in the law of Moses, an alter of unhewn stones, on which iron had not been lifted up: and he offered there whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord, and a piece offering. And Joshua wrote upon the stones a copy of the law, even the law of Moses, before the children of Israel.
Jos 9:33 And all Israel, and their elders, and their judges, and their scribes, passed on one side and on the other, before the ark; and the priests and the levites took up the ark of the covenant of the Lord; and the stranger and the native were there, who were half of them near mount Gebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded at first, to bless the people.
Jos 9:34 And afterwards Joshua read accordingly all the words of this law, the blessings and the curses, according to all things written in the law of Moses.
Jos 9:35 There was not a word of all that Moses charged Joshua, which Joshua read not in the ears of all men, and the women, and the children of Israel, and the strangers that joined themselves to Israel.
The Gibeonites heard the commands along with the Israelites just as Moses had charged them. We remember that the Israelites broke the commands, specifically the first one, within about a week. But maybe this time will be different.
Antiquities of the Jews 5.1.54 (54) So they stood in the midst of the people, and said that they were sent by the people of Gibeon, and of the circumjacent cities, which were very remote from the land where they now were, to make such a league of friendship with them, and this on such conditions as were customary among their forefathers; for when they understood that, by the favor of God, and his gift to them, they were to have the possession of the land of Canaan bestowed upon them, they said that they were very glad to hear it, and desired to be admitted into the number of their citizens.
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 130–181.
The Gieonites were happy to be part of Israel. We have to again ask ourselves, if the Gibeonites were evil why were they making the altar of the Elohim. Would they truly ask a satanist to make a holy altar? Obviously they were heirs of Shem, they were worshippers of the Elohim, even before the Israelites were.
Antiquities of the Jews 4:8:16. (49) But the Gibeonites, who inhabited very near to Jerusalem, when they saw what miseries had happened to the inhabitants of Jericho, and to those of Ai, and suspected that the like sore calamity would come as far as themselves, they did not think fit to ask for mercy of Joshua; for they supposed they should find little mercy from him, who made war that he might entirely destroy the nation of the Canaanites; (50) but they invited the people of Cephirah and Kiriath-jearim, who were their neighbors, to join in league with them; and told them, that neither could they themselves avoid the danger they were all in, if the Israelites should prevent them, and seize upon them; so when they had persuaded them, they resolved to endeavor to escape the forces of the Israelites. (51) Accordingly, upon their agreement to what they proposed, they sent ambassadors to Joshua to make a league of friendship with him, and those such of the citizens as were best approved of, and most capable of doing what was most advantageous to the multitude. (52) Now these ambassadors thought it dangerous to confess themselves to be Canaanites, but thought they might, by this contrivance, avoid the danger, namely, by saying that they bare no relation to the Canaanites at all, but dwelt at a very great distance from them; and they said further, that they came a long way, on account of the reputation he had gained for his virtue; and as a mark of the truth of what they said, they showed him the habit they were in, (53) for that their clothes were new when they came out, but were greatly worn by the length of time they had been on their journey; for indeed they took torn garments, on purpose that they might make him believe so. (54) So they stood in the midst of the people, and said that they were sent by the people of Gibeon, and of the circumjacent cities, which were very remote from the land where they now were, to make such a league of friendship with them, and this on such conditions as were customary among their forefathers; for when they understood that, by the favor of God, and his gift to them, they were to have the possession of the land of Canaan bestowed upon them, they said that they were very glad to hear it, and desired to be admitted into the number of their citizens. (55) Thus did these ambassadors speak; and showing them the marks of their long journey, they entreated the Hebrews to make a league of friendship with them. Accordingly Joshua, believing what they said, that they were not of the nation of the Canaanites, entered into friendship with them: and Eleazar the high priest, with the senate, swore to them that they would esteem them, their friends and associates, and would attempt nothing that should be unfair against them, the multitude also assenting to the oaths that were made to them. (56) So these men having obtained what they desired, by deceiving the Israelites, went home: but when Joshua led his army to the country at the bottom of the mountains of this part of Canaan, he understood that the Gibeonites dwelt not far from Jerusalem, and that they were of the stock of the Canaanites; so he sent for their governors, and reproached them with the cheat they had put upon him; (57) but they alleged, on their own behalf, that they had no other way to save themselves but that, and were therefore forced to have recourse to it. So he called for Eleazar the high priest, and for the senate, who thought it right to make them public servants, that they might not break the oath they had made to them; and they ordained them to be so:—and this was the method by which these men found safety and security under the calamity that was ready to overtake them.
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 129–130.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-god-who-walks-with-man-melchizedek.html
We are still in the time period of the Israelites driving out the Canaanites. We see a man named Adonizedek who is the king of Jerusalem. This Adonizedek is not Shem/Melchizedek, who was also known as “Lord Zedek”, it is another man using the same title. By the title alone we see that he is lord of the Zedek/Zadok priests.
These heirs of Shem do not want to be overtaken by the Israelites. They pick a soft target, the Gibeonites, probably because the Gibeonites made a covenant with the Israelites. The inhabitants of Salem and a few other cities are going to fight with the Gibeonites but due to their covenant with Joshua the Israelites will defend them.
Jasher 88:55 And when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem heard all that the children of Israel had done to Jericho and to Ai, he sent to Hoham king of Hebron and to Piram king at Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish and to Deber king of Eglon, saying, 56 Come up to me and help me, that we may strike the children of Israel and the inhabitants of Gibeon who have made peace with the children of Israel. 57 And they gathered themselves together and the five kings of the Amorites went up with all their camps, a mighty people numerous as the sand of the seashore. 58 All these kings came and camped before Gibeon, and they began to fight against the inhabitants of Gibeon, and all the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua, saying, Come up quickly to us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites have gathered together to fight against us. 59 Joshua and all the fighting people went up from Gilgal, and Joshua came suddenly to them and struck these five kings with a great slaughter. 60 And the Lord confounded them before the children at Israel, who struck them with a terrible slaughter in Gibeon, and pursued them along the way that goes up to Beth Horon to Makkedah; they fled from before the children of Israel. 61 And while they were fleeing, the Lord sent on them hailstones from heaven, and more of them died by the hailstones than by the slaughter of the children of Israel. 62 The children of Israel pursued them, and they still struck them in the road, going on and smiting them. 63 And when they were smiting, the day was declining toward evening and Joshua said in the sight of all the people, Sun, stand still on Gibeon, and you moon in the valley of Ajalon, until the nation shall have revenged itself on its enemies. 64 The Lord listened to the voice of Joshua, and the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and it stood still six and thirty moments, and the moon also stood still and hurried not to go down a whole day. 65 And there was no day like that, before it or after it that the Lord listened to the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (pp. 343-344). (Function). Kindle Edition.
This is Joshuas “long day”. We might wonder why these heirs of Shem are fighting against the Israelites. Obviously they did not want to be taken over by them. Yet we have the blurred lines and gray areas here. These people were in the land longer than the Israelites. The Israelites were given the land after the exodus, but the land was originally given to Shem and Abraham. So the heirs of Shem and Abraham who may have mixed with Canaan as Abraham did, did not want to leave. Furthermore, they already had a temple in Salem where they worshipped the Elohim. They did not worship idols as the children of Israel did one week after receiving the commands. They did not have strange fire like two of the Levites did. They did not have booths for prostitution as the Israelites later did. They did not offer children to Moloch as the Israelites later did. After wandering the desert for forty years for their own disobedience the Israelites were not a clean or holy people. And while in Egypt they did mix with the Egyptians and worship the Egyptians’ gods and idols. Which is why the Gibeonites were building an altar for the Elohim. These were not defiled people. In fact Jebus, the Jebusite city with the temple, stayed its own city in the middle of Israel until David became king.
There are reasons that the Gibeonites were making an altar for the Elohim and the Jebusites were still living in Salem with the first temple to the Elohim and were surrounded by Israel. If we look at these events without emotion, and from the perspective of the Gibeonites and Jebusites, we realize that there is more to the story that we are not told. If there had been social media at that time, we would have additional facts and additional background information.
Jos 15:63 And the Jebusite dwelt in Jerusalem, and the children of Juda could not destroy them; and the Jebusites dwelt in Jerusalem to this day.
Kirjathjearim, Kirjath Jearim, Kephira, Jarin, or Cariathiarim, was one of the Gibeonite cities where the ark remained for twenty years.
1Sa 7:1 And the men of Cariathiarim come, and bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord: and they bring it into the house of Aminadab in the hill; and they sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
1Sa 7:2 And it came to pass from the time that the ark was in Cariathiarim, the days were multiplied, and the time was twenty years; and all the house of Israel looked after the Lord.
We come to the reign of David, around 1049 BC. David lived in Hebron where Abraham lived, but then took Jebus and made it the City of David in 1048 BC.
2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
2Sa 5:5 Seven years and six months he reigned in Chebron over Juda, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Juda in Jerusalem.
2Sa 5:6 And David and his men, departed to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite that inhabited the land: and it was said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither: for the blind and the lame withstood him, saying, David shall not come in hither.
2Sa 5:7 And David took first the hold of Sion: this is the city of David.
2Sa 5:8 And David said on that day, Every one that smites the Jebusite, let him attack with the dagger both the lame and the blind, and those that hate the soul of David. Therefore they say, The lame and the blind shall not enter into the house of the Lord.
2Sa 5:9 And David dwelt in the hold, and it was called the city of David, and he built the city itself round about from the citadel, and he built his own house.
2Sa 5:10 And David advanced and became great, and the Lord Almighty was with him.
This is the first account of “Zion” in the KJV, it was called Sion, and also Sihon and Sehon. The lack of vowels in Hebrew causes some words to be spelled differently. The Jebusites sent the blind and lame out to meet David and his men to tell them not to enter the city. Interestingly the lame and blind are not in the house of the Lord as they would have been thought to be unclean.
David stayed in the citadel and built up a rampart called a millo. “Akra” also shows up in some translations, which means a “stronghold”. This is known as the hill of David that the city of David resided on. Mt Zion is not a mountain, it is a hill that was built to keep the citadel, castle, and all inhabitants, safe. There was never a mountain it was a mount, a hill. Therefore more correctly Zion should not be noted as “Mt.” Zion but “Mount” Zion. This is the city David took over from the descendants of Shem who had the first temple on that hill.
Antiquities of the Jews 1:10:1 (61) Now the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and were by extraction Canaanites, shut their gates, and placed the blind, and the lame, and all their maimed persons, upon the wall, in way of derision of the king; and said, that the very lame themselves would hinder his entrance into it. This they did out of contempt of his power, and as depending on the strength of their walls. David was hereby enraged, and began the siege of Jerusalem, and employed his utmost diligence and alacrity therein, (62) as intending, by the taking of this place, to demonstrate his power, and to intimidate all others that might be of the like [evil disposition towards him; so he took the lower city by force, (63) but the citadel held out still; whence it was that the king, knowing that the proposal of dignities and rewards would encourage the soldiers to greater actions, promised that he who should first go over the ditches that were beneath the citadel, and should ascend to the citadel itself and take it, should have the command of the entire people conferred upon him. (64) So they all were ambitious to ascend, and thought no pains too great in order to ascend thither, out of their desire of the chief command. However, Joab, the son of Zeruiah, prevented the rest; and as soon as he was got up to the citadel, cried out to the king, and claimed the chief command.
2. (65) When David had cast the Jebusites out of the citadel, he also rebuilt Jerusalem, and named it, The City of David, and abode there all the time of his reign; but for the time that he reigned over the tribe of Judah only in Hebron, it was seven years and six months. Now when he had chosen Jerusalem to be his royal city, his affairs did more and more prosper, by the providence of God, who took care that they should improve and be augmented. (66) Hiram also, the king of the Tyrians, sent ambassadors to him, and made a league of mutual friendship and assistance with him. He also sent him presents, cedar trees, and mechanics, and men skilful in building and architecture, that they might build him a royal palace at Jerusalem. Now David made buildings round about the lower city; he also joined the citadel to it, and made it one body; and when he had encompassed all with walls, he appointed Joab to take care of them. (67) It was David, therefore who first cast the Jebusites out of Jerusalem, and called it by his own name, The City of David; for under our forefather Abraham it was called (Salem or) Solyma; but after that time, some say that Homer mentions it by that name of Solyma, [for he named the temple Solyma, according to the Hebrew language, which denotes security]. (68) Now the whole time from the warfare under Joshua our general against the Canaanites, and from that war in which he overcame them, and distributed the land among the Hebrews (nor could the Israelites ever cast the Canaanites out of Jerusalem until this time, when David took it by siege), this whole time was five hundred and fifteen years.
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 185–186.
David brought the ark of the Lord to the City of David with celebration and built a tabernacle for it. A tabernacle is a tent, a temporary covering.
2Sa 6:11 And the ark of the Lord lodged in the house of Abeddara the Gethite three months, and the Lord blessed all the house of Abeddara, and all his possessions.
2Sa 6:12 And it was reported to king David, saying, The Lord has blessed the house of Abeddara, and all that he has, because of the ark of the Lord. And David went, and brought up the Ark of the Lord from the house of Abeddara to the city of David with gladness.
2Sa 6:13 And there were with him bearing the ark seven bands, and for a sacrifice a calf and lambs.
2Sa 6:14 And David sounded with well-tuned instruments before the Lord, and David was clothed with a fine long robe.
2Sa 6:15 And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a trumpet.
David brought the ark to the City of David but the tabernacle of worship was still in Gibeon. If the Jebusites were evil defiled people why would David move into their citadel and bring the ark there? If the Jebusites were unclean then David would not have brought the ark to that city. The first temple of the Elohim was already in Jebus, Jerusalem, but David would not have made it the place where the ark would reside if there was a satanic temple there.
Nathan the prophet was from Gibeon.
Lives of the Prophets: Nathan 1 He, David’s prophet, was from Gibeon, of a Hivite clan, and it was he who taught the king the Law of the Lord. 2 He foresaw David’s sin with Bathsheba, and set out in haste to warn him, but Belial thwarted his attempt. He found the naked body of a man who had been slain lying by the road; 3 and while he was detained by this duty, he knew that in that night the king had committed the sin; 4 so he turned back to Gibeon in sorrow. Then when David caused the death of Bathsheba’s husband, the Lord sent Nathan to convict him. 5 He lived to an advanced old age, and when he died, he was buried in his own land.
Press, Covenant; Coalition, Covenant Christian. The Complete 54-Book Apocrypha: 2022 Edition With the Deuterocanon, 1-3 Enoch, Giants, Jasher, Jubilees, Pseudepigrapha, & the Apostolic Fathers (p. 2017). (Function). Kindle Edition.
Solomon worships at Gibeon.
2Ch 1:1 And Solomon the son of David was established over his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and increased him exceedingly.
2Ch 1:2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands, and to the captains of hundreds, and to the judges, and to all the rulers over Israel, even the heads of the families;
2Ch 1:3 and Solomon and all the congregation went to the high place that was in Gabaon, where was God's tabernacle of witness, which Moses the servant of the Lord made in the wilderness.
2Ch 1:4 But David had brought up the ark of God out of the city of Cariathiarim; for David had prepared a place for it, for he had pitched a tabernacle for it in Jerusalem.
2Ch 1:5 And the brazen altar which Beseleel the son of Urias, the son of Or, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation enquired at it.
2Ch 1:6 And Solomon brought victims thither to the brazen altar that was before the Lord in the tabernacle, and offered upon it a thousand whole-burnt-offerings.
Once the temple was built the ark moved one more time, out from the City of David into the temple. Solomons temple was built next to the hill of Salem.
1Ki 8:1 And it came to pass when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and his own house after twenty years, then king Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel in Sion, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, this is Sion,
1Ki 8:2 in the month of Athanin.
1Ki 8:3 And the priests took up the ark,
1Ki 8:4 and the tabernacle of testimony, and the holy furniture that was in the tabernacle of testimony.
1Ki 8:5 And the king and all Israel were occupied before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, without number.
1Ki 8:6 And the priests bring in the ark into its place, into the oracle of the house, even into the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubs.
1Ki 8:7 For the cherubs spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubs covered the ark and its holy things above.
1Ki 8:8 And the holy staves projected, and the ends of the holy staves appeared out of the holy places in front of the oracle, and were not seen without.
1Ki 8:9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone, the tables of the covenant which Moses put there in Choreb, which tables the Lord made as a covenant with the children of Israel in their going forth from the land of Egypt.
1Ki 8:10 And it came to pass when the priests departed out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house.
The high place at Gibeon, or Kirjathjearim continued as a place of worship and meeting with Yahweh Elohim until the temple was finished.
We can see the history of the region, which started with Shem and his descendants, Abraham and his descendants, as well as the Canaanites. The heirs of Jacob moved in after leaving Egypt. They were supposed to teach the world about Yahweh Elohim, but we see that some of the inhabitants of Salem already knew Yahweh Elohim and had built the first temple in Salem. The Gibeonites and Jebusites were not evil or defiled people otherwise the very sacred places of worship would not have been in those communities. In fact we may ask why wasn’t the tabernacle of worship or the ark in a fully Israelite community? They did not have to be in Shem’s city, Salem. It might be that the reverse is true. The Gibeonites and Jebusites might not have wanted to mix with the Israelites because the Israelites were defiled people who had worshipped Egyptian gods. It might be that the Gibeonites and Jebusites were more pure in their worship of Yahweh Elohim as descended from Shem, having built the first temple to the Elohim. David realized the benefit of merging the holy Jebusites and Gibeonites with Israel, for Israel’s benefit. David took over the region and he and Solomon worshipped in Gibeon. David build a tabernacle for the ark but Solomon built a temple for the ark. Unfortunately the temple was destroyed, and the hill of David, Zion, was leveled in the first century AD due to the rejection of the Messiah. As Jesus said:
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
