Paul referred to the “Seven Nations” in Ac. 13:19. Moses had mentioned them in Deut. 7:1 and now Joshua 3:10 has the same list. There are other lists that did not always mention all seven (e.g. Josh. 9:1 where the Girgashites are omitted). The Bible gives us information on most of them. Also see the map at the end of this post.
·
Hittites:
o
In The Bible and Archaeology, by Sir.
Frederick Kenyon (Ch. 4) describes the amazing discovery of this “people” that
did not show up in history until archaeology discovered them.
o
Num. 13:29 says they lived in the mountains (with
the Jebusites, Amorites).
o
They lived in the area of Hebron in the time of
Abraham (Gen. 23:10).
·
Girgashites: No mention of them in the
conquests, nor is their locality described.
·
Amorites:
o
10:5: Five kings of the Amorites: Jerusalem,
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon.
o
10:6: They “dwell in the mountains”
o
12:2-3: The kingdom of Sihon was Amorite (south
of what we call the Golan Heights today, down to the River Arnon).
o
Num. 13:29: They dwelt in the mountains (with
the Hittites, Jebusites).
·
Canaanites:
o
11:3: In the east and in the west (i.e. in the
Jordan rift and the coastal plain; the accompanying map should have “Canaanites”
along the Jordan River).
o
Num. 13:29: Dwelt by the sea and along the banks
of the Jordan.
·
Perizzites:
o
Jud. 1:4: Indicates they are in tribal area of
Judah.
o
Josh. 17:15: However this passage also puts them
in the area of Mt Carmel.
·
Hivites:
o
9:7; 11:19: The Gibeonites were Hivites.
o
11:3: The Hivites lived below Hermon in the land
of Mizpah.
·
Jebusites:
o
11:3; Num. 13:29: They lived in the mountains. The mountain region runs most of the length
of Israel from the north to Beersheba in the south.
o
They are tied to Jerusalem (Jud 1:21), but also lived
in the north (Josh 11:3).
o
2 Sam. 5:6: in David’s time, they controlled
Jerusalem until Joab captured it.
·
Other notes:
o
Gen. 10:15-18: descendents of Canaan include
Sidon, Heth (Hittites), Jebusite, Amorite, Girgashite, Hivite, Arkite, Sinite,
Arvadite, Zemarite, Hamathite.
o Gen. 10:19: The Border of Canaan: Sidon to Gerar, as far as Gaza; Sodom/Gomorrah/Admah/ Zeboiim as far as Lasha (Dan?)
All of this confirms the truth of the Bible when it comes to geography. It’s a critical issue, not only because we believe the Bible to be true. It’s important because the geography is an integral part of the story of salvation, when the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us!
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