The Girgashites were one of the ancient peoples that lived in the land of Canaan at the time when the Israelites entered the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. The Girgashites are mentioned a total of 7 times in the Bible, giving us some insight into who they were and their significance in biblical history.
1. The Girgashites were one group living in Canaan
The Girgashites were one of several tribes living in the land of Canaan when the Israelites arrived after their Exodus from Egypt. The Canaanite peoples included the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (Deuteronomy 7:1, Joshua 3:10). These tribes are described as physically strong and numerous (Deuteronomy 7:1). The name “Canaanite” became a broad term describing the various peoples living in the land before the Israelites occupied it.
The ancestral lineage of the Canaanites was Ham, son of Noah, through his youngest son Canaan (Genesis 10:15-18). As descendants of Canaan, the Girgashites were likely Semitic peoples whose history and origin remain somewhat unclear. They settled in the land of Canaan, centered between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea.
The Bible first introduces the Girgashites in Genesis 15:19-21, when God promises the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, listing the present inhabitants they would later have to conquer. The Girgashites were just one of these inhabiting groups. Later references continue to associate the Girgashites with the other Canaanite peoples (Deuteronomy 7:1, Joshua 24:11).
2. The Girgashites inhabited the central hill country
While we don’t have precise boundaries, it seems the Girgashites lived primarily in the central hill country of Canaan. During the conquest of Canaan, Joshua describes defeating a Canaanite alliance whose territory stretched from the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah south of the Sea of Galilee, and the western slopes known as Mount Halak (Joshua 11:1-3).
Later, a coalition of 5 Amorite kings engaged Joshua in battle at Gibeon, in the central hill country. This Amorite alliance included the king of Jerusalem, a Jebusite city (Joshua 10:1-5). Some therefore conclude the Girgashites likely lived between the Jebusites of Jerusalem eastward into the central highlands. This hilly terrain was advantageous with fortified cities (Joshua 11:3).
The Girgashites are not mentioned possessing any major cities. Their territory likely fell under the influence of the more powerful Canaanite city-states. They may have been a more rural people inhabiting small villages in the hilly interior regions.
3. The Girgashites were conquered by Joshua
As part of God’s judgment on the Canaanites, He commanded the Israelites to conquer their land. The books of Joshua and Judges describe the military campaigns led by Joshua and the ensuing tribes to defeat the Canaanite peoples.
The Girgashites were among the peoples God said He would drive out before the Israelites (Deuteronomy 7:1, Joshua 3:10). During the conquest, Joshua defeated the Canaanite kings and their people in the southern, northern and central campaigns (Joshua 10-12). This would have included the Girgashites’ territory in the central highlands.
However, the conquest was not completed swiftly or totally. Canaanite peoples, including the Girgashites, remained as Joshua advanced in age (Joshua 13:1-7). Though militarily defeated, the Girgashites were not completely expelled or exterminated (Joshua 16:10).
4. The Girgashites intermarried with the Israelites
Although commanded to utterly destroy the Canaanite peoples, the Israelites did not fully carry out this order. As seen with the Girgashites, Canaanite groups remained living beside the Israelites in the land.
This led to intermarriage between the Israelites and Canaanites, directly violating God’s command. Solomon married many foreign women who turned his heart from God, including Hittites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hivites (1 Kings 11:1-3). The Israelites intermarried with Canaanite peoples including the Girgashites, as referenced in Ezra 9-10 and Nehemiah 13:23-27.
This intermarriage resulted in the Israelites being led astray into idolatrous worship by their pagan spouses. Intermarriage and cultural compromise would become a recurring problem in Israel’s history.
5. The Girgashites influenced Israel to sin
Because they were not fully eliminated, the Girgashite and other Canaanite survivors remained as troublesome neighbors. The Epic of Gilgamesh and other Canaanite writings indicate rampant immorality, violent pagan rituals, cult prostitution, and idolatry.
Rather than removing this wicked influence, the Israelites repeatedly adopted Canaanite idolatrous practices. They worshipped the Baals and Asherah poles, practiced divination and child sacrifice, and forgot God’s laws (Judges 2:11-13). This syncretism brought God’s judgment through enemy invasion.
Judges 3:5-6 directly names the close proximity of Canaanites like the Girgashites as the reason the Israelites began intermarrying and serving their gods. Failure to remove these ungodly influences was catastrophic to Israel’s spiritual health, leading to rampant idolatry.
6. God showed mercy to Rahab the Canaanite
Although the Canaanite peoples were condemned to destruction for their extreme wickedness, God showed mercy to the repentant. The most notable example of this mercy is Rahab the Canaanite prostitute.
Rahab lived in the Canaanite city of Jericho when Israel advanced to conquer it. By faith, she hid the Israelite spies and secured protection for herself and her family. She confessed faith in the true God of Israel (Joshua 2:8-13). Rahab was spared during Jericho’s destruction and even became an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
Rahab’s deliverance highlights God’s mercy. Even in His wrath, God was willing to save the repentant like Rahab who placed faith in Him (Hebrews 11:31). She left behind her Canaanite identity and became part of Israel.
7. Descendants of the Girgashites returned from exile
After the Babylonian exile, groups of Canaanites like the Girgashites lived in the land with the returned Jewish exiles. Ezra 9 records intermarriage already occurring between Israelites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
Nehemiah documents a similar situation requiring Jewish men to divorce their foreign wives. Scripture notes the presence of Canaanites – including Girgashites – living among and intermarrying the Israelites around this time (Nehemiah 9:8). Even after judgement and exile, Canaanite survivors like the Girgashites remained integrated with the Israelites.
8. Jesus extended salvation to Gentile peoples like Canaanites
The strong condemnation of intermarriage for Israelites was rooted in the need to protect their religious identity according to God’s covenant with Abraham.Israels call was to be holy and set apart for God’s purposes.
The coming of Jesus and inclusion of Gentiles into God’s covenant people changed this dynamic. Through faith in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled as one people of God (Ephesians 2:11-22).
Jesus Himself extended mercy to a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28, healing her daughter because of her faith. He also gave the gospel mandate to make disciples of all nations – including groups like the Canaanites.
With the fuller revelation of God’s mercy in Christ, the descendants of groups like the Girgashites can receive salvation just like anyone else who believes.
9. The Girgashites no longer exist but remind us of God’s faithfulness
Today, the Girgashites as a distinct people group no longer exist, having faded from history or been absorbed into other groups. Yet they remain significant for what they reveal about God’s nature and working in history.
The conquest highlights God’s justice against horrendous sin, yet also His mercy to the repentant like Rahab. God fulfilled His promises to give Canaan to Abraham’s lineage. But Israel also suffered by failing to remove ungodly influences like the Girgashites.
Their presence ultimately led to God’s judgment on the nation through exile, yet God remained faithful to His covenant people. Jesus then extended salvation fully to all nations, showing God’s redemptive plan for humanity stretched far beyond just Israel.
The story of the Girgashites reminds us of how God works patiently through human failure, judges evil, shows mercy to the repentant, and fulfills His promises. He works out His redemptive plan across generations to make people from every tribe and tongue His very own (Revelation 7:9).