Topical Encyclopedia The Hittites were an ancient people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, known for their significant role in the history of the Near East. They are often depicted as one of the many Canaanite tribes inhabiting the Promised Land before the arrival of the Israelites. The Hittites' land, along with that of other Canaanite tribes, was divinely promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.Biblical References and Historical Context The Hittites are first mentioned in Genesis 15:20, where God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him the land of various tribes, including the Hittites: "the land of the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim" . This promise is reiterated to Moses and the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. In Exodus 3:8, God declares His intention to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and bring them "to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites" . The Hittites are also mentioned in the context of the conquest of Canaan. In Deuteronomy 7:1-2, God instructs the Israelites to drive out the nations before them, including the Hittites, as they take possession of the land: "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—seven nations larger and stronger than you—and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must devote them to complete destruction" . Interactions with the Israelites The Hittites are depicted as both adversaries and allies of the Israelites at different times. In the narrative of the conquest, they are among the peoples whom the Israelites are commanded to dispossess. However, individual Hittites also appear in more personal accounts within the biblical text. For example, in Genesis 23, Abraham purchases a burial plot for his wife Sarah from Ephron the Hittite, demonstrating a peaceful transaction and mutual respect between the patriarch and the Hittites. King David's interactions with the Hittites further illustrate their presence in Israelite society. Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men, is a notable figure whose tragic account is recounted in 2 Samuel 11. Despite being a Hittite, Uriah is portrayed as a loyal and honorable soldier in David's army. Theological Significance The inclusion of the Hittites in the biblical narrative underscores the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs. The land of the Hittites, along with that of other Canaanite tribes, is part of the inheritance given to the Israelites as a testament to God's faithfulness. The divine mandate to conquer and settle the land serves as a central theme in the narrative of Israel's history, highlighting the sovereignty of God in guiding and establishing His chosen people. The presence of the Hittites in the biblical text also reflects the complex interactions between the Israelites and the surrounding nations. While the Hittites are often depicted as part of the opposition to Israel's divinely ordained mission, individual Hittites are shown to have integrated into Israelite society, contributing to the rich tapestry of relationships and events that shape the biblical account. Nave's Topical Index Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good land and a large, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Nave's Topical Index Deuteronomy 7:1 Joshua 1:4 Library Joshua's Conquest. Canaan Chapter x Editor's Preface Introduction The Old Testament and Archeology The Call of Moses Egypt Babylonia and Assyria Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... Resources Miscellaneous Bible Questions (All) | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about women's rights? | GotQuestions.org Why did the Israelites have to abandon their foreign wives and children? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Hittites: Called The: Children of Heth Hittites: Called The: Sons of Heth Hittites: Descended from Canaan's Son, Heth Hittites: Descent From, Illustrative of the Degradation of the Jews Hittites: Esau Intermarries With Hittites: Intermarriages With, by Esau Hittites: Intermarriages With, by Israel After Conquest of Canaan Hittites: Intermarriages With, by Israelites After the Captivity Hittites: Intermarriages With, by Solomon Hittites: Intermarry With the Israelites Hittites: Israel Commanded to Destroy Hittites: Land of, Promised to Israel Hittites: Luz Built in the Country of Hittites: Not Entirely Destroyed by Israel Hittites: Officers From, in David's Army Hittites: One of the Seven Nations of Canaan Hittites: Part of Their Land Given to Caleb Hittites: Pay Tribute to Solomon Hittites: Remarkable Persons of Abimelech Hittites: Remarkable Persons of Ephron Hittites: Remarkable Persons of Uriah Hittites: Retain Their own Kings Hittites: Sell a Burying-Ground to Abraham Hittites: Solomon Interrmarries With Hittites: The Descendants of Heth Hittites: The Remnant of, Made Tributary in the Reign of Solomon Hittites: Their Land Given to the Israelites Related Terms |
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