The term "Gederite" refers to an inhabitant of Geder, a location mentioned in the Old Testament. The Gederites are associated with the city of Geder, which is believed to be one of the Canaanite cities conquered by Joshua during the Israelite conquest of the Promised Land. The exact location of Geder is not definitively known, but it is often associated with the region of Judah.

Biblical References:

1. 1 Chronicles 27:28 : "Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the foothills, and Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil." This verse identifies Baal-hanan as a Gederite, indicating that he was responsible for overseeing the agricultural resources, specifically olive and sycamore trees, in the lowlands. This suggests that the Gederites were involved in agricultural activities, which were vital for the sustenance and economy of the region.

2. Joshua 12:13 : "the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;" This passage lists the king of Geder among the defeated kings during Joshua's military campaigns. The mention of a king implies that Geder was a significant city-state with its own governance and military presence before its conquest by the Israelites.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Gederites, as inhabitants of a Canaanite city, would have been part of the broader Canaanite culture, which was characterized by a polytheistic religion and a society organized into city-states. The Canaanites were known for their advanced urban centers, trade networks, and agricultural practices. The conquest of Canaanite cities, including Geder, was a fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites to give them the land of Canaan as an inheritance.

The role of Baal-hanan the Gederite in managing agricultural resources highlights the importance of agriculture in the ancient Near Eastern economy. Olive oil, in particular, was a valuable commodity used for cooking, lighting, and religious rituals.

Theological Significance:

The mention of Geder and its inhabitants in the biblical narrative underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and faithfulness in delivering the land of Canaan to the Israelites. The conquest of Canaanite cities like Geder serves as a testament to God's power and the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Gederites, like other Canaanite peoples, were subject to God's judgment due to their idolatry and moral corruption. The Israelites were commanded to drive out the inhabitants of the land to establish a society centered on the worship of Yahweh. This reflects the biblical principle of holiness and the call for God's people to be set apart from the surrounding nations.

Archaeological Insights:

While the precise location of Geder remains uncertain, archaeological discoveries in the region of ancient Judah have provided insights into the Canaanite culture and the transition to Israelite society. Excavations have revealed fortified cities, agricultural installations, and artifacts that illustrate the daily life and religious practices of the Canaanites and their eventual integration into Israelite culture.

The study of Geder and its inhabitants contributes to our understanding of the historical and cultural context of the biblical narrative, offering a glimpse into the complex interactions between the Israelites and the Canaanite peoples during the period of the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land.GEDERITE

ge'-der-it, ge-de'-rit (gedheri): Inhabitant of GEDER, which see (1 Chronicles 27:28).

1451. Gederi -- inhab. of Geder
... inhab. of Geder. Transliteration: Gederi Phonetic Spelling: (ghed-ay-ree') Short
Definition: Gederite. ... of Geder NASB Word Usage Gederite (1). Gederite. ...
/hebrew/1451.htm - 6kGederite (1 Occurrence)
...GEDERITE. ge'-der-it, ge-de'-rit (gedheri): Inhabitant of GEDER, which see (1
Chronicles 27:28). Multi-Version Concordance Gederite (1 Occurrence). ...
/g/gederite.htm - 7k

Gede'rite (1 Occurrence)
Gede'rite. Gederite, Gede'rite. Gederoth . Multi-Version Concordance Gede'rite
(1 Occurrence). ... Gederite, Gede'rite. Gederoth . Reference Bible.
/g/gede'rite.htm - 6k

Olive-trees (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in
the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash ...
/o/olive-trees.htm - 9k

Lowlands (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 Baal-hanan the Gederite was responsible for the olive-trees and
the sycamore-trees in the lowlands; and Joash for the stores of oil; (BBE). ...
/l/lowlands.htm - 14k

Gederathite (1 Occurrence)

/g/gederathite.htm - 7k

Western (19 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in
the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash ...
/w/western.htm - 13k

Foothills (19 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in
the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash ...
/f/foothills.htm - 12k

Baalhanan (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in
the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash ...
/b/baalhanan.htm - 8k

Baal-hanan (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in
the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash ...
/b/baal-hanan.htm - 8k

Ba'al-ha'nan (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:28 and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in
the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash ...
/b/ba'al-ha'nan.htm - 7k

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