Jebusites

The Jebusites were one of the Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land promised to the Israelites by God. They are first mentioned in Gen.10.16 and Gen.15.21 as descendants of Canaan, the grandson of Noah. When the Israelites left Egypt, God promised to drive out the Jebusites and other Canaanite tribes from the land (Exo.3.8, 17; 13.5; 23.23; 33.2; 34.11). During the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the Jebusites were among the tribes that the Israelites were commanded to utterly destroy (Deu.7.1; 20.17). However, the Jebusites proved to be formidable opponents, and the Israelites were unable to completely drive them out of Jerusalem (Jos.15.63; Jdg.1.21). The Jebusites continued to live among the Israelites during the time of the judges (Jdg.3.5; 19.11). It was not until the reign of King David that the Jebusites were finally defeated, and Jerusalem was captured and made the capital of Israel (2Sa.5.6-8; 1Ch.11.4-6). After their defeat, some Jebusites remained in the land and were subjected to forced labor by Solomon (1Ki.9.20; 2Ch.8.7). The site where the temple was built, Mount Moriah, was purchased by David from Araunah the Jebusite (2Sa.24.16-18; 1Ch.21.15-28; 2Ch.3.1). The Jebusites are mentioned among the foreign peoples with whom the Israelites intermarried, contrary to God's command (Ezr.9.1). In Zec.9.7, there is a prophetic promise that the Jebusites will be incorporated into God's people, symbolizing the inclusion of Gentiles in the future messianic kingdom.