Topical Bible: Jerusalem: The Jebusites: Held Possession of, With Judah and Benjamin

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Jerusalem in the Time of the Jebusites

Jerusalem, one of the most significant cities in biblical history, was originally inhabited by the Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe. The Jebusites are first mentioned in the context of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. The city, known as Jebus during this period, was strategically located in the hill country, making it a fortified and desirable location.

Jebusite Control and the Allotment to Judah and Benjamin

The Jebusites maintained control over Jerusalem even after the Israelites entered the Promised Land. According to the Book of Joshua, the land was divided among the tribes of Israel, with Jerusalem falling within the territories allotted to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Joshua 15:63 states, "But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So to this day, the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah."

Similarly, the tribe of Benjamin also had a claim to the city. Joshua 18:28 lists Jerusalem as one of the cities within the inheritance of the Benjamites: "Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin."

The Coexistence of Israelites and Jebusites

Despite the allocation of Jerusalem to Judah and Benjamin, the Jebusites continued to inhabit the city. The Israelites were unable to fully expel them, leading to a period of coexistence. Judges 1:21 notes, "The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day, the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites."

This coexistence is indicative of the broader challenges faced by the Israelites in fully possessing the land. The presence of the Jebusites in Jerusalem serves as a reminder of the incomplete conquest and the ongoing struggle between the Israelites and the remaining Canaanite peoples.

David's Conquest of Jerusalem

The Jebusite control of Jerusalem persisted until the time of King David. In a decisive moment for the city and the nation of Israel, David captured Jerusalem and established it as the political and spiritual center of his kingdom. 2 Samuel 5:6-7 recounts this pivotal event: "Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. And the Jebusites said to David, 'You will never get in here; even the blind and lame can repel you,' thinking, 'David cannot get in here.' Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David)."

David's conquest marked the end of Jebusite control and the beginning of Jerusalem's central role in the history of Israel. The city would become the site of the Temple, the dwelling place of God's presence among His people, and a symbol of the covenant between God and Israel.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 15:63
As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 1:21
And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Israelites
... of Jacob from whom the tribe was held to be ... Before the Philistine war was over,
Jerusalem had fallen into ... The stronghold of the Jebusites was one of the last ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... such important parts, were at that period not held in any ... territory adjoined on the
south that of Jerusalem, the fortress of the Jebusites, and on the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

And ii.
... of that dominion, yea, that He Himself held all the ... Concerning the situation of
Jerusalem, Josephus, de BJ i.6 ... shown by the ridicule of the Jebusites, when David ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm