JEBUSITE ODIT ; 'IcpcaRraeos ; yebusaus).
• : The genealogy of this ancient tribe is given, with numerous others, in that invaluable loth chapter of Genesis. At ver. 15, we read, ` And Canaan begat Sidon, his first-born, and Heth, and the yebusite.' lt is worthy of note, that while the two first names are those of individua/s, the third and all that follow denote tribes—the yebusite, etc. CD11'71). The only instance in which the indi vidual name appears is as applied to the city Jebus. [ JEBus.] The Jebusites are always mentioned among the tribes who possessed Canaan before the Exodus. They dwelt in that country during the time of Abraham (Gen. xv. 21). When the twelve spies were sent by Moses from the wilder ness of Paran to spy out the land,' they reported on their return that the Amalekites dwell in the land of the south ; and the Hittites, and the sites, and the Amorites, dwell in the nzountains,' etc. (Num. xiii. 29). Jerusalem, the capital of the Jebusites, stands on the very crest of the mountain range. On Mount Zion they built their great stronghold (1 Chron. xi. 4, 5), and doubtless they occupied a considerable section of the surrounding bills. The Jebusites were a warlike tribe, and
their king appears to have exercised extensive in fluence, as he was the head of the league formed against the Gibconites (Josh. x. 1). The Israelites conquered them, seized their Iand, and reduced them to tribute ; but the Jebusites still held their castle on Zion, and dwelt among the Benjamites until David attacked their fortress, and Joab suc ceeded in scaling its cliffs and walls. Then the tribe was dispersed ; though it would seem that a few of them were permitted to remain around their old capital, since David bought from Araunah the Jebusite, the threshing-floor on Moriah on which the Temple was afterwards built. From the narra tive of David's remarkable interview with Araunah, it would seem that the latter was of the royal family of the Jebusites (2 Sam. xxiv. 18-25 ; Citron. xxi. 15-30). Josephus tells us that Araunah was a particular friend of David's ; and for that cause it was that, when he overthrew the city, he did him no harm' (Antiq. vii. 13. 4 ; and 3. 3). This is the last notice we have of the Jebusites.— J. L. P.