Topical Encyclopedia The Hittites were one of the several Canaanite nations that inhabited the land of Canaan prior to the arrival of the Israelites. They are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the groups that the Israelites encountered during their conquest of the Promised Land. The Hittites, along with other Canaanite nations, were descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, as outlined in Genesis 10:15-19.Biblical Command for Destruction The command to destroy the Hittites, along with other Canaanite nations, is rooted in the divine instructions given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 7:1-2 , God instructs the Israelites: "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." This command was part of a broader divine mandate to purify the land from the idolatrous practices and moral corruption that characterized the Canaanite nations. The Hittites, like their Canaanite counterparts, were known for their pagan worship and practices that were abominable in the sight of the LORD. The Israelites were to be a holy people, set apart for God, and the presence of these nations posed a spiritual threat to their covenant relationship with Him. Historical Context and Significance The Hittites were a significant power in the ancient Near East, with a well-established civilization that extended beyond Canaan into Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). They were known for their advancements in ironworking and chariot warfare, which made them formidable opponents. Despite their strength, the biblical narrative emphasizes that it was the LORD who would deliver them into the hands of the Israelites, underscoring the divine nature of Israel's conquest. Theological Implications The command to destroy the Hittites and other Canaanite nations is often viewed through the lens of divine justice and holiness. The Canaanites' practices, including child sacrifice and other forms of idolatry, were seen as deeply offensive to God. The destruction of these nations was intended to prevent the Israelites from being led astray into similar practices, thereby preserving the purity of their worship and obedience to God. In Deuteronomy 20:16-18 , the rationale for this command is further explained: "However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. You must completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God." Legacy and Lessons The narrative of the Hittites and the command for their destruction serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness with which God views sin and idolatry. It highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands and the need for His people to remain distinct and separate from the corrupting influences of the world. The account of the Hittites, therefore, is not just a historical account but also a theological lesson on the necessity of holiness and the consequences of disobedience. Torrey's Topical Textbook Deuteronomy 7:1,2,24When the LORD your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you; Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Nations of the North-East Here Next Followeth the History of Moses Divine Sovereignty. Babylonia and Assyria The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus The Last Days of the Old Eastern World The Reaction against Egypt Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ... The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... Resources Who were the Hittites? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the Perizzites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Why was a burial place so important in the Bible? | 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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