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Battle of the Hebrews against the Canaanites and the Chastisement of KorahJean Fouquet · c. 1470

Jebusites

Summary

A Canaanite people descended from Canaan who inhabited Jerusalem (Jebus) until David captured their stronghold of Zion.

☩Origin and Territory

The Jebusites were one of the most powerful nations of Canaan, descended from Jebus, the third son of Canaan. They settled about Mount Moriah, building a fortress-city called Jebus, which later became Jerusalem. When the spies surveyed the land, they reported the Jebusites as dwellers in the mountains.

Key verses:Genesis 10:16Numbers 13:29Deuteronomy 7:1

☩Resistance to Israel

The Jebusites joined in confederacies against Joshua and suffered defeats, with their king Adonizedek being slain at the battle of Beth-horon. Despite early victories, the Israelites failed to completely dispossess them. Though Jerusalem was sacked and burned by the men of Judah, the Jebusites regained their citadel and held it until David's time. Their fortress was considered impregnable—so secure that they boasted even the blind and lame could defend it.

Key verses:Joshua 10:1-26Joshua 11:3Judges 1:8Judges 1:21

☩David's Conquest

David captured the stronghold of Zion by sending his men through the water tunnel (the Gihon Spring shaft), launching a surprise attack from within. After making Jerusalem his capital, David did not exterminate the remaining Jebusites. The famous Araunah (Ornan) the Jebusite, called 'the king' and treated with kingly dignity, sold David the threshing floor where the Temple would later be built.

Key verses:2 Samuel 5:6-92 Samuel 24:16-181 Chronicles 21:24-25

☩Later History

After David's conquest, the Jebusites were gradually absorbed into the Israelite population. Under Solomon, some were subjected to forced labor. By the time of the return from exile, intermarriage with Jebusites was listed among the people's sins requiring correction.

Key verses:1 Kings 9:20-21Ezra 9:1-2

Related Verses32 mentions

Joshua· 8 verses

3:1010:111:112:112:8

Exodus· 7 verses

3:83:1713:523:2323:24

Judges· 3 verses

1:213:519:11

Deuteronomy· 2 verses

7:120:17

References

  1. 1.George Morrish, "Jebusites," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
  2. 2.John Kitto, "Jebusites," in A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. II (Mark H. Newman, 1845).
  3. 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Jebusites," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
  4. 4.Don Fleming, "Jebusites," in Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (Bridgeway Publications, 1990).
  5. 5.Don Fleming, "Jebusites," in Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (Bridgeway Publications, 1990).