one of the original tribes scattered over Palestine, from Hermon to Gibeon in the south. The name is interpreted as "midlanders" or "villagers" ( Genesis 10:17 ; 1 Chronicles 1:15 ). They were probably a branch of the Hittites. At the time of Jacob's return to Canaan, Hamor the Hivite was the "prince of the land" ( Genesis 24:2-28 ).

They are next mentioned during the Conquest ( Joshua 9:7 ; 11:19 ). They principally inhabited the northern confines of Western Palestine ( Joshua 11:3 ; Judges 3:3 ). A remnant of them still existed in the time of Solomon ( 1 Kings 9:20 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.