Introduction:
The Avim, also referred to as Avites, are an ancient people mentioned in the Bible, primarily in the context of the conquest narratives of the Israelites. They are considered one of the early inhabitants of the land of Canaan, specifically in the region that would later become part of the Philistine territory.

Biblical References:
The Avim are mentioned in the context of the territorial conquests described in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 2:23, the Berean Standard Bible states: "As for the Avim who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place." This passage indicates that the Avim were displaced by the Caphtorim, who are often identified with the Philistines.

Historical Context:
The Avim are believed to have been one of the many small groups inhabiting the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. Their mention in the Bible is brief, and much of their history and culture remain obscure. The reference to their displacement by the Caphtorim suggests a period of significant migration and upheaval in the region, which was common in the ancient Near East.

Geographical Location:
The Avim are associated with the area extending to Gaza, a significant city in the southwestern part of Canaan. This region later became known for its association with the Philistines, who were among the Sea Peoples that settled along the coastal areas of Canaan.

Cultural and Theological Significance:
The Avim, like other Canaanite groups, are part of the broader narrative of the Israelites' conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. Their displacement by the Caphtorim is indicative of the shifting dynamics and the fulfillment of divine promises regarding the land. The presence of such groups in the biblical narrative underscores the complexity of the historical and cultural landscape that the Israelites encountered.

Related Peoples:
The Avim are often mentioned alongside other ancient groups such as the Caphtorim and the Philistines. The Caphtorim, who displaced the Avim, are traditionally linked to the island of Crete, suggesting a connection to the Minoan civilization. The Philistines, who later occupied the region, are frequently mentioned in the Bible as adversaries of the Israelites.

Conclusion:
While the Avim are not a major focus in the biblical narrative, their mention provides insight into the early inhabitants of Canaan and the complex history of the region. Their displacement by the Caphtorim highlights the dynamic and often tumultuous nature of ancient Near Eastern history, as well as the unfolding of God's plan for the Israelites as they entered the land promised to them.Avim

wicked or perverse men

Avim

(ruins), Avims or Avites .

1. A people among the early inhabitants of Palestine, whom we meet with in the southwest corner of the seacoast, whither they may have made their way north-ward from the desert, (2:23) probably the same as the Hivites.
2. The people of Avva, among the colonists who were sent by the king of Assyria to reinhabit the depopulated cities of Israel. (2 Kings 17:31)

A people dwelling in Hazerim, or "the villages" or "encampments" on the south-west corner of the sea-coast (Deuteronomy 2:23). They were subdued and driven northward by the Caphtorim. A trace of them is afterwards found in Joshua 13:3, where they are called Avites. AVIM

av'-im. See AVVIM.

5761. Avvim -- a city in Benjamin, also a people on the SW coast ...
... Avim. Plural of Avviy; Avvim (as inhabited by Avvites), a place in Palestine (with
the article prefix) -- Avim. see HEBREW Avviy. 5760, 5761. Avvim. 5762 . ...
/hebrew/5761.htm - 6kAvim (3 Occurrences)
... Avites. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AVIM. av'-im. See AVVIM.
Multi-Version Concordance Avim (3 Occurrences). Deuteronomy ...
/a/avim.htm - 7k

Pharah (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pharah (1 Occurrence). Joshua
18:23 And Avim, and Pharah, and Ophrah, (KJV). ...
/p/pharah.htm - 6k

Avims (1 Occurrence)

/a/avims.htm - 6k

Avvim (3 Occurrences)
... of the southern extremity of Canaan afterward occupied by the Philistines (Deuteronomy
2:23; compare Jos 13:3, 4, the King James Version "Avim," a'-vim). ...
/a/avvim.htm - 8k

Avites (2 Occurrences)
... of the southern extremity of Canaan afterward occupied by the Philistines (Deuteronomy
2:23; compare Jos 13:3, 4, the King James Version "Avim," a'-vim). ...
/a/avites.htm - 7k

Averts (1 Occurrence)

/a/averts.htm - 6k

Philistines (224 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 47:4 Amos 9:7). Caphtor was a "shoreland," but its position is doubtful
(see Deuteronomy 2:23); the Caphtorim found an earlier race of Avim living in ...
/p/philistines.htm - 75k

Princes (324 Occurrences)
... the Canaanite it is reckoned, five princes of the Philistines, the Gazathite, and
the Ashdothite, the Eshkalonite, the Gittite, and the Ekronite, also the Avim...
/p/princes.htm - 40k

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