The Hivites were one of the Canaanite tribes listed in Genesis 10. When Joshua led the Israelites back to the land promised to Abraham's descendants, they were one of the tribes they fought against. Towns where Hivites dwelled included Gilgal, Jericho, Gibeon, Bethel, Ai & Shechem. Joshua 11:19 says: "Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle". The people of Gibeon tricked the Israelites into making peace with them in Joshua 9.

Hivites mentioned in the Bible include Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite and Zibeon the Hivite (Genesis 34:2), who was grandfather or one of Esau's wives as stated in Genesis 36:2. Hamor's son Shechem caused an incident when he raped Jacob's daughter, Dinah, which led to the annhilitation of the males of that town (Genesis 34). Hamar sold land to Jacob in Shechem. A cave at that location was the burial place of Jacob and Joseph. Other references to Hamor include Joshua 24:32, Judges 9:28 & Acts 7:16 (NIV only).

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Genesis 10:17
Exodus 3:8,17; 13:5; 23:23,28; 33:2; 34:11
Deuteronomy 7:1; 20:17
Joshua 3:10; 9:1,7; 11:3,19; 12:8; 24:11
Judges 3:3,5
2 Samuel 24:7
1 Kings 9:20
1 Chronicles 1:15
2 Chronicles 8:7

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