jebus Summary and Overview

trodden hard, or fastness, or "the waterless hill", the name of the Canaanite city which stood on Mount Zion (Josh. 15:8; 18:16, 28). It is identified with Jerusalem (q.v.) in Judg. 19:10, and with the castle or city of David (1 Chr. 11:4,5). It was a place of great natural strength, and its capture was one of David's most brilliant achievements (2 Sam. 5:8).

(threshing-floor), one of the names of Jerusalem, the city of the Jebusites, are called JEBUSI. #Jos 15:8; 18:16,28; Jud 19:10,11; 1Ch 11:4,5| [JERUSALEM]

JE'BUS (place trodden down, threshing- floor), the ancient name of Jerusalem among the Canaanites, Jud 19:10-11; 1 Chr 11:4-5; probably derived from a descendant of Canaan, the son of Ham. Gen 10:16. The Jebusites were partially subdued by Joshua, Josh 10:23, Josh 10:40; Neh 12:10; Josh 15:63; Num 13:29; and they were permitted to remain after the conquest of Jebus by David. 2 Sam 5:6-9; 2 Sam 24:16-25; 1 Chr 11:48; Ezr 9:1-2. "Jebusi" is sometimes put for the city Jebus. Josh 18:16, Josh 18:28; Zech 9:7. Jebus was more accurately the south-west hill afterward called Mount Zion, or "city of David." Being surrounded on all sides by deep ravines, it was a place of great natural strength. See Jerusalem.

The Jebusite city, a former name of Jerusalem (Joshua 18:16,28; Judges 19:10,11; 1 Chronicles 11:4,5). Jebus in Hebrew means a trodden place, as a threshing floor, namely, the dry rock, the S.W. hill, the modern, "Zion," not mount Moriah, the city of Solomon, in the center of which was a perennial spring. But the name is probably older than Hebrew times. In haughty self security the Jebusites fancied that "the blind and lame" would suffice to defend their fortress, so strong was its position, shut in by deep valleys on three sides. The Judaeans and Benjamites occupying the N. side, which was lower ground, ever since the death of Joshua (Joshua 15:8,63; Judges 1:8,21), had been heretofore unable to gain the Jebusite citadel, such is the characteristic bravery ofmountaineers. But Joab (see DAVID ) ascended the height and took it (2 Samuel 5:6-9; 1 Chronicles 11:6). In Zechariah 9:7 "Ekron (shall be) as a Jebusite," the sense is, Even the ignoble remnant of the Jews shall be sacred to "our God" and "as a governor in Judah," whereas Philistine "Ekron" shall be a tributary bond servant "as a Jebusite," in the servile position to which Solomon consigned them (1 Kings 9:20,21). The Jebusites were a hardy mountain tribe (Numbers 13:29; Joshua 11:3). Jabin, king in the N., sent southwards to invite them to help against Joshua. Even after David's capture of Zion see ARAUNAH appears settled prosperously in the neighbourhood. The language in 2 Samuel 24:23 admits, though it does not require, that Araunah should be regarded as the fallen "king" of the Jebusites; he certainly exhibited a true kingly spirit. In Genesis 10:15,16 the Jebusite stands third of Canaan's descendants, between Heth (Hittites) and the Amorite, the position which the race retained subsequently. So in Ezekiel 16:3,45 Jerusalem appears as the offspring of the union of the Amorite and Hittite. In the enumeration of the ten races occupying Canaan the Jebusites stand last (Genesis 15:21). Some of them appear as late as the return from Babylon, termed "Solomon's servants"(Nehemiah 7:57; 11:3; Ezra 9:1).