The word "Jebusites" is spelled with four syllables: /ˈdʒɛb.jə.saɪts/. The first syllable "Jeb" is pronounced with a "j" sound like "jet" and the "e" is pronounced with a short "e" sound like "bed". The second syllable "u" is pronounced with a short "u" sound like "cup". The third syllable "si" is pronounced with a long "i" sound like "eye" and the final syllable "tes" is pronounced with a short "e" sound like "pet". The Jebusites were an ancient people group mentioned in the Bible.
The Jebusites were an ancient Canaanite people who occupied the city of Jebus, later known as Jerusalem, prior to its conquest by King David. Mentioned in biblical texts, the term "Jebusites" typically refers to this specific group of people and their association with the ancient city of Jerusalem.
The Jebusites were a Semitic people who resided in and around the region of Canaan, which encompassed modern-day Israel, Palestine, and parts of Jordan and Lebanon. Their origins and exact ethnic identity are not well-documented, but they likely belonged to the wider Amorite ethnic group.
The Jebusites gained prominence due to the strategic location of their city, which was situated on a hill with natural defenses, making it difficult to conquer. Despite several attempts by different Israelite tribes to capture Jebus, it remained under Jebusite control for centuries until it was finally seized by King David and renamed Jerusalem.
The Jebusites played a significant role in biblical narratives, notably through encounters with biblical figures such as Abraham, Melchizedek, and the Israelite kings. Numerous references to the Jebusites can be found in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Judges, 2 Samuel, and 1 Chronicles, shedding light on their historical and cultural influence.
Today, the term "Jebusites" primarily serves as an archaic reference to the ancient Canaanite people who inhabited Jerusalem, providing insight into the city's early history and its eventual transformation into a significant religious and political center.
The term "Jebusites" is derived from the biblical Hebrew word "Yevusi" (יְבוּסִי), which refers to the people who inhabited the ancient city of Jebus, also known as Jerusalem. In ancient times, Jebus was a fortified city located on a hill in the region of Canaan. The name "Jebusites" first appears in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of Joshua and Judges, to describe the inhabitants of that city prior to its conquest by King David. Over time, the word "Jebusites" has come to represent the ancient people who dwelled in Jerusalem, before it became the capital of the Israelite kingdom.