Topical Encyclopedia The Hivites were one of the several Canaanite tribes mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as inhabitants of the land of Canaan prior to the arrival of the Israelites. They are frequently listed among the nations that the Israelites encountered and were commanded to drive out upon entering the Promised Land. The Hivites are noted for their role in the biblical narrative as both adversaries and instruments used by God to test the faithfulness of Israel.Biblical References and Identity The Hivites are first mentioned in Genesis 10:17 as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, placing them among the original inhabitants of the land. They are also listed in Genesis 15:19-21 as one of the nations whose land was promised to Abraham's descendants. The Hivites occupied regions in the central and northern parts of Canaan, including areas around Mount Hermon and the city of Shechem. In Joshua 9, the Hivites are notably identified with the Gibeonites, who deceived Joshua and the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. The Gibeonites, fearing the Israelites, disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land and sought a covenant of peace. Joshua 9:7 states, "The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, 'Perhaps you dwell among us, so how can we make a treaty with you?'" Despite the deception, the treaty was honored, and the Gibeonites were spared, becoming servants to the Israelites. Role in Testing Israel The presence of the Hivites and other Canaanite nations served a divine purpose in the history of Israel. Judges 3:1-4 explains that these nations were left in the land to test Israel: "These are the nations the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan... They were left to test Israel, to find out whether they would obey the commandments the LORD had given their fathers through Moses." The Hivites, along with the other Canaanite tribes, were a constant challenge to Israel's faithfulness to God. Their presence in the land was a test of Israel's obedience to God's commandments, particularly the command to avoid idolatry and the practices of the surrounding nations. The Israelites' interactions with the Hivites and other Canaanites often led to periods of disobedience and idolatry, resulting in divine judgment and oppression by foreign powers. Cultural and Religious Practices The Hivites, like other Canaanite tribes, practiced a polytheistic religion that included the worship of Baal and Asherah, among other deities. Their religious practices were characterized by rituals and ceremonies that were abhorrent to the Israelites, including child sacrifice and temple prostitution. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting these practices, as seen in passages such as Deuteronomy 18:9-12 , which cautions against imitating the detestable ways of the nations in the land. Legacy and Lessons The narrative of the Hivites in the Bible serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the Israelites in maintaining their covenant relationship with God amidst a pagan culture. The Hivites' deception and subsequent integration into Israelite society illustrate the complexities of obedience and the consequences of failing to fully adhere to God's commands. Their account is a testament to the enduring struggle between faithfulness and compromise, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative. Torrey's Topical Textbook Judges 3:3Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelled in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon to the entering in of Hamath. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation Here Next Followeth the History of Moses Resources Who were the Perizzites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Promised Land? | GotQuestions.org What is the significance of the land of Canaan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Hivites: A Part of, Left to Prove Israel Hivites: A Tribe of Canaanites Hivites: Descended from Canaan Hivites: Esau Intermarried With Hivites: Esau Intermarries With Hivites: Israel Commanded to Destroy Hivites: Land of, Promised to Israel Hivites: One of the Seven Nations of Canaan Hivites: Pay Tribute to Solomon Hivites: Remnant of, Made Tributary in the Reign of Solomon Hivites: Shechemites and Gibeonites Were Families of Hivites: Supposed to be the Ancient Avim, or Avites Hivites: The Gibeonites a People of Hivites: The Shechemites a People of Hivites: Their Land Given to the Israelites Related Terms |
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