Topical Encyclopedia The Hittites, referred to as the "Children of Heth" in the Bible, are a significant ancient people mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are descendants of Heth, the second son of Canaan, who was the son of Ham, Noah's son (Genesis 10:15). The Hittites are one of the many Canaanite tribes that inhabited the land of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites.Biblical References and Historical Context The Hittites are first mentioned in Genesis 15:20, where God promises Abram the land of various tribes, including the Hittites: "the land of the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites" . This promise is reiterated in the covenant God makes with Abram, indicating the significance of the Hittites' land in the divine plan for Israel. In Genesis 23, the Hittites play a crucial role in the narrative of Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for his wife Sarah. The text describes the Hittites as the people of the land, and Abraham negotiates with Ephron the Hittite for the purchase: "So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—the field with its cave and all the trees anywhere within the boundaries of the field—was deeded over to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city" (Genesis 23:17-18). The Hittites are also mentioned in the context of Esau's marriages. Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, took two Hittite women as wives, which caused grief to his parents: "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 were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah" (Genesis 26:34-35). Interactions with Israel The Hittites were among the nations that the Israelites were commanded to drive out of 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" . Despite this command, the Hittites continued to exist in the region and interacted with Israel throughout its history. King David had dealings with the Hittites, most notably in the account of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men and the husband of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). Uriah's loyalty and tragic death highlight the complex relationships between the Israelites and the Hittites. Cultural and Archaeological Insights The Hittites were known for their advanced civilization, which extended beyond the biblical narrative. Archaeological discoveries have revealed that the Hittites established a powerful empire in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) during the second millennium BC. They were known for their military prowess, chariot technology, and diplomatic relations with other ancient Near Eastern powers, such as Egypt and Assyria. The biblical portrayal of the Hittites as a significant and influential people aligns with historical and archaeological evidence, underscoring their role in the ancient world and their interactions with the Israelites as recorded in Scripture. Torrey's Topical Textbook Genesis 23:5And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Chapter xxiii Canaan Hearken and Look; Or, Encouragement for Believers Chapter x 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 |