The Per'izzites were one of the ancient Canaanite tribes mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are often listed among the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which the Israelites were commanded to conquer and possess. The Per'izzites are typically mentioned alongside other Canaanite groups such as the Hittites, Amorites, Jebusites, Hivites, and Girgashites.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 13:7 · The Per'izzites are first mentioned in the context of the land dispute between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. "And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and Perizzites were dwelling in the land."

2. Genesis 15:19-21 · In God's covenant with Abram, the Per'izzites are included among the peoples whose land would be given to Abram's descendants. "the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites."

3. Exodus 3:8 · When God speaks to Moses from the burning bush, He promises to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, inhabited by several nations including the Per'izzites. "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."

4. Deuteronomy 7:1 · The Per'izzites are listed among the seven nations greater and mightier than Israel that God would drive out before the Israelites. "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—"

5. Joshua 3:10 · Joshua reassures the Israelites of God's presence and power to drive out the inhabitants of the land, including the Per'izzites. "Joshua continued, 'By this you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.'"

6. Judges 1:4-5 · The Per'izzites are mentioned in the context of the early conquests of the Israelites in the Promised Land. "When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek."

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Per'izzites, like other Canaanite tribes, were indigenous to the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The name "Per'izzite" is thought to mean "villagers" or "dwellers in the open country," suggesting that they may have lived in rural areas or small settlements rather than fortified cities. This lifestyle might have made them distinct from other Canaanite groups who occupied more urbanized regions.

The Per'izzites, along with other Canaanite tribes, practiced polytheistic religions and were known for their idolatrous practices, which were abominable to the Israelites. The biblical narrative emphasizes the need for the Israelites to remain separate from these practices to maintain their covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Theological Significance:

The presence of the Per'izzites in the biblical narrative serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the Israelites in fulfilling God's command to take possession of the Promised Land. The repeated mention of the Per'izzites and other Canaanite tribes underscores the theme of divine faithfulness and the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs. The conquest of these tribes is portrayed as a divine mandate, emphasizing the holiness and sovereignty of God in establishing His people in the land He had promised to them.

The Per'izzites, as part of the broader Canaanite culture, also represent the spiritual and moral challenges that the Israelites would face in maintaining their distinct identity as God's chosen people. The biblical injunctions against intermarriage and idolatry highlight the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant and the dangers of assimilation into the surrounding pagan cultures.Per'izzites (21 Occurrences)

Genesis 13:7
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.
(See RSV)

Genesis 15:20
and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,
(See RSV)

Exodus 3:8
and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
(See RSV)

Exodus 3:17
And I have said: I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
(See RSV)

Exodus 23:23
For Mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off.
(See RSV)

Exodus 33:2
and I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite--
(See RSV)

Exodus 34:11
Observe thou that which I am commanding thee this day; behold, I am driving out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
(See RSV)

Deuteronomy 7:1
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before thee, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
(See RSV)

Deuteronomy 20:17
but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee;
(See RSV)

Joshua 3:10
And Joshua said: 'Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.
(See RSV)

Joshua 9:1
And it came to pass, when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the Lowland, and on all the shore of the Great Sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof,
(See RSV)

Joshua 11:3
to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
(See RSV)

Joshua 12:8
in the hill-country, and in the Lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
(See RSV)

Joshua 17:15
And Joshua said unto them: 'If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.'
(See RSV)

Joshua 24:11
And ye went over the Jordan, and came unto Jericho; and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.
(See RSV)

Judges 1:4
Then Judah went up and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Per'izzites into their hand; and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek.
(DBY RSV)

Judges 1:5
They came upon Ado'ni-be'zek at Bezek, and fought against him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Per'izzites.
(DBY RSV)

Judges 3:5
So the people of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites;
(DBY RSV)

1 Kings 9:20
All the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 8:7
As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel;
(See RSV)

Ezra 9:1
Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: 'The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
(See RSV)

Per'izzites (21 Occurrences)
Per'izzites. Perizzites, Per'izzites. Perjured . Multi-Version Concordance
Per'izzites (21 Occurrences). Genesis 13:7 And there ...
/p/per'izzites.htm - 13k

Defeated (88 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Judges 1:4 Then Judah went up and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the
Per'izzites into their hand; and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek. ...
/d/defeated.htm - 32k

Perizzites (23 Occurrences)

/p/perizzites.htm - 15k

Perjured (1 Occurrence)

/p/perjured.htm - 7k

Ado'ni-be'zek (2 Occurrences)
... Ado'ni-be'zek (2 Occurrences). Judges 1:5 They came upon Ado'ni-be'zek at Bezek,
and fought against him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Per'izzites. ...
/a/ado'ni-be'zek.htm - 6k

Jeb'usites (30 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:5 So the people of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the
Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites; (DBY RSV). ...
/j/jeb'usites.htm - 16k

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