Early Access: Sign up to unlock all Pro features free through the end of 2026.
Biblexika

Jebusites

Old TestamentFemaleCanaanite tribe

The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe that inhabited Jerusalem before King David conquered the city.

Jebusites illustration
Jebusites

Biography

The Jebusites were a Canaanite people group who occupied the city of Jebus, later renamed Jerusalem, and the surrounding hill country of Canaan. They appear in the Table of Nations as descendants of Canaan (Genesis 10:16) and are consistently listed among the peoples Israel was commanded to dispossess upon entering the Promised Land. Despite this divine mandate, the Israelites failed to dislodge the Jebusites for centuries; they maintained a stronghold in Jerusalem even after Joshua's conquests (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21). It was not until King David's reign that Joab led the capture of the Jebusite stronghold of Zion, which became the City of David and the future site of the temple (2 Samuel 5:6–9; 1 Chronicles 11:4–9).

Significance

The Jebusites' long occupation of Jerusalem, the city that would become the spiritual and political center of Israel, carries profound redemptive-historical significance. Their persistent presence underscores Israel's incomplete obedience during the period of the judges, while their eventual displacement by David marks a decisive turning point in establishing the Davidic kingdom. David's purchase of the Jebusite threshing floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:18–25) as the site for the altar, later the site of Solomon's temple, demonstrates God's sovereign ability to transform former strongholds of opposition into centers of His glory. The Jebusites thus serve as a reminder that God's redemptive purposes prevail despite human failure and enemy resistance.

Verse Appearances (37)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources