Topical Bible: Hivites: Remnant of, Made Tributary in the Reign of Solomon

◄ Hivites: Remnant of, Made Tributary in the Reign of Solomon ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The Hivites were one of the Canaanite tribes encountered by the Israelites during their conquest of the Promised Land. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as inhabitants of the land prior to Israel's arrival. The Hivites are listed among the nations that the Israelites were commanded to drive out of Canaan (Exodus 3:8, 17; Deuteronomy 7:1).

Historical Context and Biblical References

The Hivites are first mentioned in Genesis 10:17 as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham. They are later identified as one of the groups living in the land of Canaan during the time of the patriarchs and the conquest under Joshua. In Joshua 9, the Hivites are notably involved in the cunning deception of the Gibeonites, who tricked Joshua into making a peace treaty with them by pretending to be from a distant land. As a result, the Gibeonites, who were Hivites, were spared from destruction but were made woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and the altar of the LORD (Joshua 9:27).

Remnant of the Hivites

Despite the initial command to completely drive out the Canaanite nations, remnants of these peoples, including the Hivites, remained in the land. The Israelites did not fully obey God's command to expel all the inhabitants, which led to various challenges and influences from these remaining groups. Judges 3:3-5 notes that the Hivites were among the nations left to test Israel, to see whether they would obey the LORD's commands.

Made Tributary in the Reign of Solomon

During the reign of King Solomon, the Hivites, along with other remaining Canaanite peoples, were subjected to forced labor. Solomon's extensive building projects, including the construction of the Temple and his palace, required a large workforce. The Bible records that Solomon conscripted the descendants of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites who were not Israelites, making them laborers (1 Kings 9:20-21): "As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the Israelites— their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day."

This subjugation of the Hivites and other Canaanite remnants as tributaries under Solomon's rule reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel the land, albeit with the incomplete obedience of the Israelites in fully driving out the inhabitants. The presence of these peoples as laborers also underscores the complex interactions between Israel and the remaining Canaanite populations during the united monarchy period.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 9:20,21
And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
Torrey's Topical Textbook