On the death of Joshua (about 1350 B.C.), who had succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into Canaan, "nearly the whole of the sea-coast, all the strongholds in the rich plain of Esdraelon, and, in the heart of the country, the invincible fortress of Jebus [later site of Jerusalem], were still in the hands of the unbelievers."

The inhabitants of old Jerusalem Were Jebusites; the town so call'd from them; And theirs the native right But when the chosen people grew more strong, The rightful cause at length became the wrong; And every loss the men of Jebus bore, 90 They still were thought God's enemies the more.