The Perizzites were one of the ancient Canaanite tribes mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are often listed among the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which the Israelites were commanded to conquer and possess. The name "Perizzite" is thought to mean "villagers" or "dwellers in the open country," suggesting that they lived in unwalled towns or rural areas.

Biblical References

The Perizzites are first mentioned in Genesis 13:7, during the time of Abram (later Abraham) and Lot: "And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and Perizzites were dwelling in the land" . This indicates their presence in the land even before the patriarchal period.

In Genesis 15:18-21, God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him the land of various tribes, including the Perizzites: "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 Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites'" .

The Perizzites are also mentioned in the context of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. In Exodus 3:8, God speaks to Moses about delivering the Israelites from Egypt and bringing them to a land flowing with milk and honey, "the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites" .

During the conquest under Joshua, the Perizzites are again listed among the peoples to be driven out. Joshua 3:10 states, "Joshua continued, 'By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites'" .

Role in Israel's History

The Perizzites, like other Canaanite tribes, were to be dispossessed by the Israelites as part of God's judgment on the Canaanites for their iniquity (Genesis 15:16). However, the Israelites did not fully obey God's command to drive out all the inhabitants of the land. Judges 1:4-5 records that the Israelites fought against the Canaanites and Perizzites, but they did not completely eliminate them.

The failure to fully remove the Perizzites and other Canaanite tribes led to significant problems for Israel. In Judges 3:5-6, it is noted that the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and they took their daughters in marriage and served their gods, leading to idolatry and disobedience to the LORD.

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Perizzites, like other Canaanite peoples, practiced polytheism and were known for their idolatrous worship, which included rituals that were abominable to the Israelites. The influence of the Perizzites and other Canaanite tribes posed a constant threat to the spiritual purity and covenant faithfulness of Israel.

Later Mentions and Legacy

The Perizzites are mentioned sporadically in later biblical texts, often in lists of peoples in the land. In 1 Kings 9:20-21, Solomon is said to have conscripted the remaining descendants of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites into forced labor, as they were not completely destroyed by the Israelites.

The Perizzites, as part of the broader Canaanite culture, serve as a historical reminder of the challenges Israel faced in maintaining their distinct identity and faithfulness to God amidst surrounding pagan influences.The Perizzite

and Perizzites (belonging to a village), one of the nations inhabiting the land of promise before and at the time of its conquest by Israel. (B.C. 1450.) They are continually mentioned in the formula so frequently occurring to express the promised land. (Genesis 15:20; Exodus 3:8,17; 23:23; 33:2; 34:11) The notice in the book of Judges locates them in the southern part of the holy land. The signification of the name is not by any means clear. It possibly meant rustics, dwellers in open, unwalled villages, which are denoted by a similar word.

6522. Perizzi -- a people in the land of Canaan
... 6521, 6522. Perizzi. 6523 . a people in the land of Canaan. Transliteration:
Perizzi Phonetic Spelling: (per-iz-zee') Short Definition: Perizzite. ... Perizzite ...
/hebrew/6522.htm - 6k

The Importance of a Choice
... And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of
Lot's cattle; and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the importance of a choice.htm

Chapter xiii
... And so there was strife between the keepers of Abram's cattle and the keepers of
Lot's cattle, and (besides) the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiii.htm

Of the Meaning of the Seven Nations of Whose Lands Israel Took ...
... in to possess, and shall have destroyed many nations before thee, the Hittite, and
the Girgashites, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xvi of the meaning.htm

That the Beginning of Our Good Will and Its Completion Comes from ...
... to possess, and shall have destroyed many nations before thee, the Hittite, and
the Gergeshite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xix that the beginning.htm

Out of St. Luke's Fifth ChapterAre Found Proofs of Christ's ...
... classifies the "Sins of the Nations," as Tertullian's idea seems to have suggested:
(1) Pride, Amorite; (2) Envy, Hittite; (3) Wrath, Perizzite; (4) Gluttony ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter ix out of st lukes.htm

Canaan
... Scriptures. "Perizzite," in fact, means "villager," and the word is a
descriptive title rather than the name of a people or a race. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... The conquerors "dwelt among the Canaanites: the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the
Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite: and they took their daughters to ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... made at Sinai, which is expressed in the words, "Behold, I drive out before thee
the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm

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