Topical Encyclopedia The concept of predestination, as it pertains to the Hivites, is an intriguing topic within biblical studies. The Hivites were one of the Canaanite tribes mentioned in the Old Testament, and their interactions with the Israelites provide a backdrop for understanding divine sovereignty and human agency.Biblical References The Hivites are first mentioned in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:17, where they are listed as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham. This genealogical placement situates them among the peoples who inhabited the land of Canaan prior to the Israelite conquest. In Genesis 15:18-21, God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him the land of various tribes, including the Hivites: "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.'" The Hivites are also mentioned in the context of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. In Exodus 3:8, God declares His intention to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. This divine promise underscores the predetermined plan for the Israelites to inherit the land occupied by these tribes. Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency The narrative of the Hivites, particularly in the book of Joshua, illustrates the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency. In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites, who were Hivites, famously deceived Joshua and the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. Joshua 9:3-6 recounts their cunning plan: "But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins, cracked and mended, worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves. All the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, 'We have come from a distant land; now make a treaty with us.'" Despite the deception, the Israelites honored the treaty due to their oath before God, as seen in Joshua 9:18-20. This incident highlights the complexity of predestination, where human actions and decisions are woven into the fabric of God's sovereign plan. Theological Implications From a theological perspective, the account of the Hivites raises questions about the nature of God's foreknowledge and the role of human choice. The Hivites' inclusion in the land promised to Israel suggests a predetermined divine plan, yet their ability to negotiate a treaty with the Israelites indicates a level of human agency within that plan. This duality is a common theme in discussions of predestination, where God's ultimate purposes are fulfilled through the free actions of individuals. The Hivites' fate, as part of the broader narrative of the Canaanite tribes, serves as a reminder of God's justice and mercy. While they were subject to the divine decree of displacement, their survival through the treaty with Israel demonstrates God's capacity for grace even amidst judgment. This balance of justice and mercy is a key aspect of the biblical understanding of predestination, where God's sovereign will is accomplished in harmony with His righteous character. Nave's Topical Index Joshua 11:20For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. Nave's Topical Index Library The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation Resources What is double predestination? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the doctrine of preterition? | GotQuestions.org What is al-Qadr in Islam? | GotQuestions.org Predestination: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
    |