Gibeon stood seven miles south of Bethel. It was "one of the largest towns in the central part of Canaan," [1] larger than Ai ( Joshua 10:2), and possibly the Hivite capital. [1]2 It later became a Levitical town ( Joshua 18:25; Joshua 21:17). The Israelites eventually pitched the tabernacle there, and it remained at that site until Solomon built his temple ( 1 Kings 3:4-5; 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 21:29). Hivites inhabited Gibeon at the time of the conquest ( Joshua 9:7). [source][source][source]
When the leaders of Gibeon learned of the crafty methods the Israelites had used at Jericho and Ai, they determined to use deception too. [source][source][source]