Perizzites

The Perizzites were an ancient Canaanite people mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. They are listed among the seven nations inhabiting the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. Their name is thought to derive from a Hebrew word meaning "villagers" or "country dwellers," suggesting they lived in rural areas rather than fortified cities.

The Bible mentions the Perizzites in various contexts, often in conjunction with other Canaanite groups such as the Hivites, Jebusites, and Amorites. They are described as inhabiting the land alongside the Canaanites, and their presence is noted in genealogies and accounts of the Israelite conquest and settlement of Canaan. Specific regions where they are said to have lived are not consistently detailed, but they appear to have been dispersed throughout the land.

The Perizzites, like the other Canaanite peoples, are portrayed in the biblical narrative as inhabitants who were ultimately displaced or assimilated by the Israelites. Their existence as a distinct ethnic group gradually faded from historical records as the Israelite presence in Canaan became established. Archaeological evidence for the Perizzites as a distinct group is limited, and much of what is known comes from biblical texts.