Pronunciation: [hˈɪva͡ɪts] (IPA) 
The word "Hivites" is spelled with a silent "h" at the beginning, followed by the letter "i" pronounced as /aɪ/. The next two letters are vowels, pronounced as /ɪ/ and /iː/, respectively. The letter "v" is pronounced as /v/ and then the word ends with the two letters "e" and "s", pronounced as /iːz/. The IPA phonetic transcription of "Hivites" is /haɪvɪts/. It refers to a group of people who were inhabitants of Canaan in ancient times.
The term "Hivites" refers to an ancient Canaanite group mentioned in the Bible and other historical texts. The word "Hivites" comes from the Hebrew term "Hivi," which means "villagers" or "settlers." The Hivites were one of the various Canaanite tribes that dwelled in the land of Canaan, in the region that now encompasses modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria.
The historical records do not provide extensive information about the Hivites, but they are mentioned in biblical passages such as Genesis and Joshua. According to the Bible, the Hivites lived in cities and settlements, and some of their prominent locations included Shechem, Gibeon, and Hebron.
As part of the Canaanite civilization, the Hivites likely engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, trade, and other social and economic activities typical of the region during ancient times. Their culture and religious practices may have been influenced by neighboring Canaanite tribes and other major civilizations of the time.
The historical significance of the Hivites mainly stems from their role in the biblical narrative and their interactions with the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan. The Bible portrays them as inhabitants of the Promised Land who made treaties or alliances with the Israelites. The Hivites played various parts in ancient conflicts, diplomacy, and cultural exchange, making them an intriguing subject for biblical and historical scholars.
The word "Hivites" is derived from the Hebrew term "Hivvi", which means "villagers" or "dwellers of the countryside". In the Hebrew Bible, the Hivites are mentioned as one of the Canaanite peoples who inhabited the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. The etymology of the word ultimately traces back to the ancient Semitic roots of the Hebrew language.
