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Jeriel, King of Gibeon is a fictional recounting of the Battle of Beth Horon, recorded in the biblical book of Joshua. It includes a fictional telling of the events preceding the battle and the events that transpired immediately after it. It is significant in that at the time, it was the largest land battle to have ever taken place on the earth. There were nearly a million combatants on what the Bible records as the world's longest day. The Bible also records God as being a participant in the battle on the side of Israel. It differs from the biblical account in that it looks at the events leading up to the battle from the Gibeon point of view. Gibeon was a city-state that allied itself with Israel before the battle by first deceiving the nation then by offering itself as a servant of Israel. God, who had previously marked the city for destruction, recognized the treaty negotiated by the Israelites even though it was done without his guidance.
The story explores the reason that people of Gibeon became servants rather than fight for their lives and freedom. However, it is mostly a story of God's salvation of men destined for destruction. It magnifies God's ability to pardon and preserve all men that humble themselves before him.
