The Hittites were one of the several Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land of Canaan prior to and during the time of the Israelite conquest. The presence and influence of the Hittites in the region are well-documented in the Old Testament, and their interactions with the Israelites, particularly through intermarriage, are of significant interest.

Biblical Context and Commandments

The Israelites were explicitly commanded by God to refrain from intermarrying with the inhabitants of Canaan, including the Hittites. This command was given to prevent the Israelites from being led astray into idolatry and the practices of the surrounding nations. In Deuteronomy 7:1-4 , God instructs Israel: "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. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods."

Instances of Intermarriage

Despite these clear instructions, the Israelites did not fully adhere to God's command, and instances of intermarriage with the Hittites and other Canaanite tribes are recorded in the Scriptures. One notable example is found in the life of Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau took Hittite wives, which caused distress to his parents. Genesis 26:34-35 states, "When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah."

Another significant instance is the marriage of Solomon to Hittite women, among others, which led to his spiritual downfall. 1 Kings 11:1-2 records, "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love."

Consequences of Intermarriage

The intermarriages with the Hittites and other Canaanite peoples had profound spiritual and social consequences for the Israelites. These unions often led to the introduction and acceptance of idolatrous practices among the Israelites, which was a direct violation of their covenant with God. The influence of foreign wives is seen as a contributing factor to the spiritual decline of Israel, as they were led away from the worship of Yahweh to serve other gods.

The Book of Judges highlights the cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, including intermarriage, which led to periods of oppression and divine judgment. Judges 3:5-6 notes, "Thus the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And they took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and they served their gods."

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the intermarriages with the Hittites and other Canaanite tribes serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith and the importance of obedience to God's commands. The Israelites' failure to remain separate from the surrounding nations led to spiritual corruption and ultimately contributed to their downfall and exile. The narrative underscores the necessity of faithfulness to God and the consequences of allowing external influences to lead believers away from their covenantal obligations.Judges 3:5,6
And the children of Israel dwelled among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... in the neighbourhood of the southern Hittites in such ... tradition in the kingdom of
Israel, the latter to ... Owing to intermarriages between the tribes, and the ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... for the many evils they had inflicted on Israel. ... with some of the Hebrew clans after
the latter ... consequently there had been frequent intermarriages between the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

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