perizzites Summary and Overview

villagers; dwellers in the open country, the Canaanite nation inhabiting the fertile regions south and south-west of Carmel. "They were the graziers, farmers, and peasants of the time." They were to be driven out of the land by the descendants of Abraham (Gen. 15:20; Ex. 3:8, 17; 23:23; 33:2; 34:11). They are afterwards named among the conquered tribes (Josh. 24:11). Still lingering in the land, however, they were reduced to servitude by Solomon (1 Kings 9:20).

PER'IZZITES (villagers). The Canaanites apparently lived in the cities of Palestine, while the Perizzites lived in the open country; accordingly, the two together made up the inhabitants of the country, and were scattered over the land, from which they were, however, in great measure expelled during the Conquest. Gen 13:7; Gen 34:30; Josh 17:15; Jud 3:5; 1 Kgs 9:20; 2 Chr 8:7; Ezr 9:1. PERSECU'TION is the application of coercive means in matters of conscience, or the infliction of pains and penalties for conscience' sake. Under the Mosaic dispensation, which considers God as the King of the Hebrew nation, the enforcement of religious views was a part of the criminal law. To worship another god was treason, and was punished as such. Deut 13. Foreigners who dwelt in Palestine were not compelled to embrace Judaism, but they would not obtain full citizens' rights unless fulfilling this condition, Ex 12:48, and for open idolatry they were punished. Lev 18:26; Lev 20:1-5. Under the Christian dispensation, which considers God as the Father of all men, persecution becomes itself a crime, which, however, does not encroach on the right of the Christian Church to exclude any member for heretical doctrine or scandalous conduct. 1 Cor 5:3-5, 1 Cor 5:13. Persecution in the Christian Church has indeed been defended by reference to the Mosaic Law, but it is manifestly contrary to both the spirit and action of Christ and the apostles, who had rather suffer than inflict punishment, and who trusted to the power of the truth, and not to carnal weapons, for the universal success of their religion. Thus Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36. And Paul affirms, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." 2 Cor 10:4.