Hivites

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HIVITES . One of the tribes of Palestine which the Israelites displaced (  Exodus 3:8;   Exodus 3:17 [J [Note: Jahwist.] ]). Our oldest source (J [Note: Jahwist.] ) says that they were the people who, fearing to meet the Israelites in battle, by a ruse made a covenant with them (  Joshua 9:7 ). A Deuteronomic editor states that their villages were Gibeon, Chephira, Kiriath-jearim, and Beeroth (  Joshua 9:17 ). Gibeon was six miles N. W. of Jerusalem, and Beeroth ten miles N. of it. Probably, therefore, they inhabited a region north of Jerusalem.   Genesis 34:2 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ) makes the Shechemites Hivites, but this is of doubtful authority. The main part of the chapter is silent on this point. In   Joshua 11:3 and   Judges 3:3 they seem to be located near Hermon in the Lebanon, but ‘Hivite’ is probably here a corruption of ‘Hittite’ (cf. Moore, Judges , p. 79). Deuteronomic editors introduce Hivites often in their list of Canaanitish peoples, usually placing them before Jebusites. Perhaps this indicates that they lived near Jerusalem.   2 Samuel 24:7 , though vague, is not inconsistent with this. Some have supposed Hivite to mean ‘villager,’ but the etymology is most uncertain. Really nothing is known of their racial affinities.

George A. Barton.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Hebrew always in the singular = "midlanders" (Ewald), "villagers" (Gesenius). Their abode was about Hermon and Lebanon ( Joshua 11:3, "under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh";  Judges 3:3, "from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath"); toward Tyre ( 2 Samuel 24:7), and Sichem or Shechem ( Genesis 34:11), and Gibeon ( Joshua 9:1;  Joshua 9:7). Descended from Ham ( Genesis 10:17). (See Avim , with whom Septuagint identify them).

A warm, impulsive, unsuspicious people, as their readiness to accept the cunning proposition of Simeon and Levi shows; peaceful and commercial, more keen to gain cattle and wealth than to wage war, as the same story shows; as also that of Abimelech (Judges 8:33 - 9:53). The Shechemite idol Baalberith, "Baal of the covenant," was a god of peace not war. Their not revenging themselves on Jacob's family, as he feared, is another proof of their quiet spirit. The Gibeonite Hivites showed the same unwarlike spirit, with the additional element of craft wherewith they in their turn deceived Israel, as Jacob's sons had deceived their forefathers.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Hivites, Land of the ( Hî'Vîtes ), A region in Canaan, along the coast of the Mediterranean, peopled by some of the descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham.  Genesis 10:17;  1 Chronicles 1:15. On Jacob's return to Canaan, Shechem was in possession of the Hivites, Hamor the Hivite being the "prince of the land."  Genesis 34:2. They voluntarily surrendered their country to Joshua.  Joshua 9:7;  Joshua 11:19. The main body of the Hivites were then living on the northern confines of western Palestine—"under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh,"  Joshua 11:3; "in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath."  Judges 3:3. They paid tribute to Solomon.  1 Kings 9:20;  2 Chronicles 8:7. Their country appears to have been afterward absorbed by the surrounding nations.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Among the many tribal groups that occupied Canaan before the Israelites dispossessed them were the people known as Hivites ( Genesis 10:15-17;  Exodus 3:8;  Exodus 23:28;  Deuteronomy 7:1;  Joshua 3:10). They lived mainly in the mountain country of northern Palestine and Lebanon ( Joshua 11:3;  Judges 3:3;  2 Samuel 24:6-7), though some lived in Shechem and others as far south as Gibeon ( Genesis 34:2;  Joshua 9:3;  Joshua 9:7;  Joshua 11:19). They were among the many Canaanite tribal peoples used as slaves in Solomon’s building programs ( 1 Kings 9:20-21). Like other Canaanite groups they were eventually absorbed into Israel.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 9:7 Joshua 11:19 Genesis 34:2 Joshua 11:3 Judges 3:3 Deuteronomy 7:1

Zibeon is identified as a Hivite ( Genesis 36:2 ), but is listed among the Horites in  Genesis 36:20 ,Genesis 36:20, 36:29 . In addition, the Septuagint or earliest Greek translation reads “Horite” for “Hivite” in some texts ( Genesis 34:2;  Joshua 9:7 ). This may indicate an early linguistic confusion of “Horite” and “Hivite.” It is unlikely that the two are identical, although the exact relationship is unclear. See Horites .

James C. Moyer

Morrish Bible Dictionary

One of the races found early in Palestine: they were descendants of Ham through Canaan.  Genesis 10:17 . Jacob, on his return to Palestine, found Shechem occupied by the Hivites.  Genesis 34:2 . They also possessed Gibeon, and found means to deceive Joshua into making a league with them.  Joshua 9:3,7 . They seemed to be more a commercial than a warlike people. We also find the Hivites in the north in mount Lebanon, and Israel was beguiled into making marriage contracts with them.  Judges 3:3,5,6 . In the days of Solomon they were still in the land, and were made tributary to Israel.  1 Kings 9:20 . Israel suffered through not carrying out the directions of God to cast out these and other inhabitants of the land. They were by them led into idolatry.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 10:17 1 Chronicles 1:15 Genesis 24:2-28

They are next mentioned during the Conquest ( Joshua 9:7;  11:19 ). They principally inhabited the northern confines of Western Palestine ( Joshua 11:3;  Judges 3:3 ). A remnant of them still existed in the time of Solomon ( 1 Kings 9:20 ).

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a people descended from Canaan,  Genesis 10:17 . They are also mentioned,  Deuteronomy 2:23 . The inhabitants of Shechem, and the Gibeonites, were Hivites,  Joshua 11:19;  Genesis 34:2 . Mr. Bryant supposes the Hivites to be the same as the Ophites, or ancient worshippers of the sun under the figure of a serpent; which was, in all probability, the deity worshipped at Baal-Hermon.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See Canaanites .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Hi´vites, one of the nations of Canaan which occupied Palestine before the Israelites (;;;; ). They occupied the northern and north-eastern part of the country. In , it is stated that 'the Hivites dwelt in Mount Hermon, from Mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath;' and in , the Hivites are described as living 'under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.' The 'cities of the Hivites' are mentioned in , and, from being associated with Sidon and Tyre, must have been in the northwest. A remnant of the nation still existed in the time of Solomon, who subjected them to a tribute of personal labor, with the remnants of other Canaanitish nations which the Israelites had been unable to expel . A colony of this tribe was also found in Northern Palestine, occupying the towns of Gideon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim: and these obtained from Joshua a treaty of peace by stratagem .