AVVITES, AVVIM (ă'vīts, ā'vĭm)
An ancient people who dwelled in the region of Gaza before the time of Moses (Deut.2.23). When Joshua was an old man, these people still had not been rooted out (Josh.13.3).Avvim was a city in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh.18.23), perhaps populated by the remains of this ancient tribe.
AVIM, AVIMS, AVITES. KJV forms of AVVIM, AVVITES.
See Avva.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
a’-vits `awwim; Heuaioi, also unaspirated; (also used to represent the name of the Hivites): The early inhabitants of the southern extremity of Canaan afterward occupied by the Philistines (De 2:23; compare Jos 13:3,4, the King James Version "Avim," a’-vim).
The Avvim of Jos 18:23 was a town of Benjamin, not a people. Gesenius supposes the name to mean "dwellers in the desert," but it was more probably the name of some pre-Sem tribe. The Avvim are described as living in Chatserim or "encampments" and extending as far as the outskirts of Gaza.
