One of the races found early in Palestine: they were descendants of Ham through Canaan (Gen. 10:17). Jacob, on his return to Palestine, found Shechem occupied by the Hivites (Gen. 34:2). They also possessed Gibeon, and found means to deceive Joshua into making a league with them (Jos. 9:3, 7). They seemed to be more a commercial than a warlike people. We also find the Hivites in the north in mount Lebanon, and Israel was beguiled into making marriage contracts with them (Judg. 3:3,5-6). In the days of Solomon they were still in the land, and were made tributary to Israel (1 Kings 9:20). Israel suffered through not carrying out the directions of God to cast out these and other inhabitants of the land. They were by them led into idolatry.