Solomon’s administration over the remaining Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites demonstrates God’s fulfilled promise of Israel’s dominion and warns us of pervading influences that endure when not fully rooted out.
“As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel,” (v.20). The biblical text focuses on a group of non-Israelite inhabitants who remained in the land during King Solomon’s reign, long after Israel took control of Canaan. These peoples—Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—each had their own identity and territory (Genesis 15:20; Deuteronomy 7:1). By the time of Solomon’s rule (around the 10th century BC), they were reduced in number and influence, yet still present among the Israelites. Their presence would become significant in terms of labor for Solomon’s building projects, fulfilling what had been foreshadowed during earlier periods of conquest and settlement.
The Amorites were often associated with the hill country, referred to as “mountain dwellers” in Scripture, and the Hittites descended from Heth to live near Hebron. The Perizzites were rural villagers, distinct from those who inhabited walled cities. The Hivites were also an early tribe that, like the others, faced conquest during Joshua’s day. The Jebusites originally occupied Jerusalem, known in ancient times as Jebus, until David captured it to make it his capital (2 Samuel 5:6-9). Although King Solomon was faithful to the LORD in many respects (1 Kings 8), the reality of these remaining nations fulfilled the earlier instructions that they would labor under Israel’s dominion rather than be fully destroyed.
For believers, there is a spiritual parallel in how unaddressed influences can remain alongside our spiritual commitments. Just as these nations persisted in the land, so too can certain problems linger in a believer’s life. Yet God’s grace and lordship through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2) provide assurance that even lingering struggles can be remade for His purposes. King Solomon’s rule over these remnants illustrates both God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His word and mankind’s continual need to obey the LORD wholeheartedly.
This verse highlights the presence of remnant nations under Solomon’s reign, illustrating that earlier inhabitants still influenced Israel, but they were placed under forced labor instead of integrating fully into God’s covenant community.
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1 Kings 9:20 meaning
“As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the sons of Israel,” (v.20). The biblical text focuses on a group of non-Israelite inhabitants who remained in the land during King Solomon’s reign, long after Israel took control of Canaan. These peoples—Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—each had their own identity and territory (Genesis 15:20; Deuteronomy 7:1). By the time of Solomon’s rule (around the 10th century BC), they were reduced in number and influence, yet still present among the Israelites. Their presence would become significant in terms of labor for Solomon’s building projects, fulfilling what had been foreshadowed during earlier periods of conquest and settlement.
The Amorites were often associated with the hill country, referred to as “mountain dwellers” in Scripture, and the Hittites descended from Heth to live near Hebron. The Perizzites were rural villagers, distinct from those who inhabited walled cities. The Hivites were also an early tribe that, like the others, faced conquest during Joshua’s day. The Jebusites originally occupied Jerusalem, known in ancient times as Jebus, until David captured it to make it his capital (2 Samuel 5:6-9). Although King Solomon was faithful to the LORD in many respects (1 Kings 8), the reality of these remaining nations fulfilled the earlier instructions that they would labor under Israel’s dominion rather than be fully destroyed.
For believers, there is a spiritual parallel in how unaddressed influences can remain alongside our spiritual commitments. Just as these nations persisted in the land, so too can certain problems linger in a believer’s life. Yet God’s grace and lordship through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2) provide assurance that even lingering struggles can be remade for His purposes. King Solomon’s rule over these remnants illustrates both God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His word and mankind’s continual need to obey the LORD wholeheartedly.
This verse highlights the presence of remnant nations under Solomon’s reign, illustrating that earlier inhabitants still influenced Israel, but they were placed under forced labor instead of integrating fully into God’s covenant community.