Girgashites
Summary
One of the seven Canaanite nations whose land was promised to Israel, descended from Canaan son of Ham.
☩A Canaanite Nation
The Girgashites were one of the nations descended from Canaan whom God promised to dispossess before Israel. They are listed among the seven nations of Canaan—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—all of whom were mightier than Israel but would be driven out by God's power.
☩Later History
The Girgashites are thought to have lived east of the Sea of Galilee. They are sometimes omitted from lists of Canaanite nations, leading some scholars to suggest they were part of the Hivites. Jewish tradition holds that they voluntarily fled to Africa rather than face Joshua's conquest. Josephus states that by his time only their name remained.
Related Verses5 mentions
References
- 1.John Kitto, "Girgashites," in A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. I (Mark H. Newman, 1845).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Girgashites," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Girgashites," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.American Tract Society, "Girgashites," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).