establishment of his royal residence there, it was sometimes referred to as “the city of David.”—2 Sam. 5:7.

The Jebusites that occupied this city and the surrounding area were descendants of Ham and Canaan. (Gen. 10:15, 16, 20; 1 Chron. 1:13, 14) When mentioned along with their relatives (Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites), the Jebusites are generally listed last, perhaps because of being the least numerous. (Deut. 7:1; Judg. 3:5) They were classified as a mountain-dwelling people (Num. 13:29), and their land was said to be, figuratively, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”—Ex. 3:8, 17.

Jehovah promised Abraham that he would give the land of the Jebusites to him and his seed. (Gen. 15:18-21; Neh. 9:8) In carrying out this promise, Jehovah brought his chosen people out of Egypt, and as they crossed the Jordan, God sent his angel ahead, commanding that they show themselves strong and oust all those who resisted them. (Ex. 13:3-5; 23:23; 33:1, 2) They were to conclude no covenant and no marriage alliance with the Jebusites and other Canaanites, but, instead, were to devote them to total destruction, leaving no breathing thing alive “in order that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things.”—Ex. 34:11-16; Deut. 20:16-18.

Upon observing the Israelite successes in the takeover of the land—the capture of Jericho, Ai and the capitulation of the Gibeonites—the Jebusite king Adoni-zedek headed a confederacy of five kings who were determined to stop the invasion. (Josh. 9:1, 2; 10:1-5) In the battle that ensued, in which Jehovah caused the sun and moon to stand still, the armies of the confederacy were defeated, the kings were captured and put to death, and their corpses were impaled on stakes for all to see. (Josh. 10:6-27; 12:7, 8, 10) It may have been after this victory that the Israelites put the torch to Jebus, burning it to the ground.—Judg. 1:8.

With the conclusion of Joshua’s campaign of conquest in the S and central portions of the Promised Land, he turned his attention to the northern section W of the Jordan. Once again the Jebusites rallied to resist, this time under the banner of Jabin, the king of Hazor, and again they were defeated, with Jehovah’s help. (Josh. 11:1-8) Nevertheless, after the burning of Jebus and sometime before the dividing of the land, the Jebusites again gained control of the strategic heights of Jerusalem, which they held for four hundred years.—Josh. 15:63.

The city of Jebus was assigned to Benjamin when the land was apportioned out, and it lay on the immediate border between the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin. (Josh. 15:1-8; 18:11, 15, 16, 25-28) However, the Israelites did not drive out the Jebusites, but, instead, allowed their sons and daughters to intermarry, and they even took up worshiping the false gods of the Jebusites. (Judg. 1:21; 3:5, 6) During this period it remained “a city of foreigners,” in which a Levite once refused to stay overnight.—Judg. 19:10-12.

Finally, in 1070 B.C.E., David conquered Zion, the stronghold of the Jebusites. (2 Sam. 5:6-9; 1 Chron. 11:4-8) Later David purchased the threshing floor to the N from a Jebusite named Araunah (Ornan), and there he built an altar and offered up special sacrifices. (2 Sam. 24:16-25; 1 Chron. 21:15, 18-28) It was upon this site years later that Solomon built the costly temple. (2 Chron. 3:1) Thereafter, Solomon put the descendants of the Jebusites to work in the great building program, working them as slaves.—1 Ki. 9:20, 21; 2 Chron. 8:7, 8.

In the last reference we have to the Jebusites, we learn that as an ethnic group they were still present to contaminate the worship of the Israelites upon their return from Babylonian captivity.—Ezra 9:1, 2.

JEBUSI

See JEBUS, JEBUSITE.

JECOLIAH

(Je·co·liʹah) [Jah has been able].

Mother of Judah’s King Uzziah (Azariah), whom she bore in about 845 B.C.E. Jecoliah, wife of Amaziah, was from Jerusalem.—2 Ki. 15:1, 2; 2 Chron. 26:1, 3.

JECONIAH

(Jec·o·niʹah) [Jehovah firmly establishes].

King of Judah for only three months and ten days before being taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 617 B.C.E.; son of Jehoiakim and grandson of good King Josiah. (1 Chron. 3:15-17; Esther 2:6; Jer. 24:1) His name is occasionally contracted to Coniah. (Jer. 22:24; 37:1) In certain translations it is sometimes spelled Jechoniah (Matt. 1:11, 12, JB; Mo; NW, 1950 ed.; RS), but most often it occurs as Jehoiachin.—2 Ki. 24:6, 8-15; see JEHOIACHIN.

JEDAIAH

(Je·daʹiah).

Two Hebrew names, different in spelling and meaning, are transliterated into English the same way.

[Heb., Y^edha·yahʹ, Jah has favored]

1. A Simeonite whose descendant Ziza was a chieftain when Hezekiah ruled.—1 Chron. 4:24, 37, 38, 41.

2. A postexilic resident of Jerusalem who repaired the section of the city wall in front of his house; son of Harumaph.—Neh. 3:10.

[Heb., Y^edha·ʽ^eyahʹ, Jah knows]

3. A paternal house of priests selected by lot for the second of the twenty-four priestly groups into which David divided the priesthood.—1 Chron. 24:1, 6, 7.

Listed below are several postexilic priests designated by the name Jedaiah, some of whom were quite likely members of the same paternal house, but this is difficult to determine.

4. A priest, or possibly members of the above-mentioned paternal house, who resided in Jerusalem after the return from Babylon. Jedaiah’s being called “the son of” Joiarib at Nehemiah 11:10 may be a copyist’s addition, as indicated by comparison with 1 Chronicles 9:10. Jedaiah and the other two (Joiarib or Jehoiarib and Jachin) at the beginning of the lists in Nehemiah and Chronicles are the same names as those of paternal houses in the time of David. (1 Chron. 24:6, 7, 17) So it may be that reference is simply to the paternal houses, indicating that they were represented, whereas the names following may be of individuals; or it could be that all the names are of individuals then living.—1 Chron. 9:10-12; Neh. 11:10-13.

5. Forefather of 973 priests who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. (Ezra 2:1, 2, 36; Neh. 7:39) These are likely members of the same paternal house (No. 3 above), unless their being “of the house of Jeshua” refers to some connection with the high-priestly line.

6, 7. Two priests of this name are included in the list of those who returned with Jeshua and Zerubbabel in 537 B.C.E. (Neh. 12:1, 6, 7) During the priesthood of Jeshua’s successor Joiakim, each of the two is referred to as a paternal house, one represented by Uzzi and the other by Nethanel. (Neh. 12:12, 19, 21) Whether either or both of these Jedaiahs are connected with the original paternal house (No. 3 above) cannot be determined.

8. One of the returned exiles from whom gold and silver were taken and made into a crown for High Priest Joshua. (Zech. 6:10-14) No connection with the above priests is specifically indicated.

JEDIAEL

(Je·diʹa·el) [known of God].

1. A son of Benjamin. Jediael’s descendants at one time numbered 17,200 valiant, mighty men. (1 Chron. 7:6, 10, 11) He is probably the same as Benjamin’s son Ashbel.—Gen. 46:21; see ASHBEL, ASHBELITES.

2. One of several warriors and leaders of the tribe of Manasseh who joined David’s army while he was camped at Ziklag. (1 Chron. 12:20, 21) Possibly the same as No. 3 below.

3. One of David’s mighty men; son of Shimri.—1 Chron. 11:26, 45; see No. 2 above.