The territory of the Gibeonites comprised four cities. The people were not under the rule of a king, but were governed by elders, or senators. Gibeon, the most important of their towns, "was a great city, as one of the royal cities," "and all the men thereof were mighty." It is a striking evidence of the terror with which the Israelites had inspired the inhabitants of Canaan, that the people of such a city should have resorted to so humiliating an expedient to save their lives. 507

Gibeonitterne havde fire byer. Folket havde ingen konge, men blev styret af ældste eller senatorer. Gibeon, som var en af deres vigtigste byer, "var en stor by, som en af kongsbyerne" og alle mændene der var tapre krigere. Det var et slående bevis på den rædsel, som israelitterne havde vakt hos Kanaans indbyggere, at befolkningen i en sådan by benyttede en så ydmygende fremgangsmåde for at redde livet.