Interesting Facts

• Hivi is listed as one of the sons of Canaan.
• Seir, who built a city called Seir in a valley opposite Mount Paran, is identified as the son of Hur, son of Hivi, son of Canaan. This establishes a familial connection and a specific location for some descendants of Hivi.
• The Hivites are listed among the nations of Canaan whose land was later considered a possession of Jacob and his seed.
• The Hivites are mentioned as one of the nations that heard the noise of the battle between the sons of Jacob and the inhabitants of Bethchorin and were afraid of the Hebrews’ strength.

Genealogy

• Hivi was one of the eleven sons of Canaan, making him a grandson of Ham and a great-grandson of Noah. Canaan begat Zidon, Heth, Amori, Gergashi, Hivi, Arkee, Seni, Arodi, Zimodi, and Chamothi.
• The sources provide a further genealogical link through Seir, who is identified as “Seir the son of Hur, son of Hivi, son of Canaan”. Seir had seven sons: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishan, Ezer, and Dishon, who became dukes in the land of Seir, also known as the land of the Horites. This suggests that the Hivites branched into other tribal groups.
• The sources do not provide information about Hivi’s birth, marital connections beyond being a son of Canaan, or any offspring besides Hur.

Historical Context

The emergence of Hivi and the Hivites occurs in the period following the division of the earth among Noah’s sons. The land of Canaan, the inheritance of Canaan and his sons including Hivi, was located to the west of Put, Mizraim, and Cush, bordering the sea. While Noah instructed his descendants to observe righteousness, the actions of Ham, Canaan’s father, led to a curse upon Canaan. The building of cities and the naming of them after founders was a common practice during this time. The Hivites, as descendants of Canaan, would have participated in this societal organization, establishing their presence in the land. Later narratives involving Jacob and his sons place the Hivites as one of the existing Canaanite nations in the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. Their interactions with the Israelites, such as hearing of the destruction of Shechem and the subsequent fear of Jacob’s sons’ power, indicate their presence and awareness of the unfolding events in the land of Canaan.

Narrative

The personal narrative of Hivi is not detailed in the provided sources; he is primarily known through his lineage as one of the sons of Canaan. The significance of Hivi lies in his role as the ancestor of the Hivite people, who inhabited parts of the land of Canaan. The descendant Seir is explicitly mentioned as building a city and establishing a lineage of dukes in the land of Seir, indicating the Hivites’ involvement in settling and organizing the region. The Hivites, as one of the seven nations of Canaan, are included in the land that Jacob purchased from Esau as an everlasting possession for his children. Their presence is also noted in the context of the conflicts between Jacob’s sons and other Canaanite groups. The fear of the Hivites and other Canaanite nations upon hearing of the victories of Simeon and Levi against Shechem and later the battle at Bethchorin suggests a narrative of increasing Hebrew influence and the perceived power of their God. Thus, while Hivi himself does not feature in specific events or dialogues, the Hivites as his descendants play a role in the broader narrative of the settlement and conflicts within the land of Canaan as depicted in these ancient texts.