Definition
The Biblical Hittites are a group of people referenced in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as inhabitants of Canaan and surrounding regions during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age. They are depicted as one of several distinct peoples living in the land of Canaan prior to, and during, the Israelite settlement.
Overview
The Hittites appear in numerous biblical passages, including genealogical lists (e.g., Genesis 10:15, 15:20), narratives of Abraham’s interactions (Genesis 23:1‑20; 24:15‑16), and legal codes (Deuteronomy 7:1; Joshua 9:1‑2). In the biblical narrative, they are often portrayed as a “people of the land” (Hebrew: ‘am ha‑aretz) with whom the Israelites sometimes intermarried, formed alliances, or engaged in conflict. The biblical text distinguishes the Hittites from other Canaanite groups such as the Amorites, Hivites, Jebusites, and Perizzites.
Archaeologically and historically, the term “Hittite” most commonly refers to the empire centered in Anatolia (modern Turkey) that flourished in the second millennium BCE. Scholars debate the extent to which the Biblical Hittites correspond to the Anatolian Hittite state, a later Neo‑Hittite political entity in northern Syria, or a distinct local Canaanite group that adopted the name.
Etymology/Origin
The Hebrew term for the Hittites is חִתִּים (Ḥittîm), derived from the root Ḥ-T meaning “to bind” or “to cut.” It is generally understood to be a transliteration of the Old Anatolian name Ḫatti (referring to the land of the Hittite empire). The Septuagint renders the name as Χίτιοι (Chitioi), and the Latin Vulgate as Hittae. The use of the term in the biblical corpus suggests that the writers were aware of a people identified by this name, either through direct contact or through inherited tradition.
Characteristics
- Geographical Distribution: Biblical references locate the Hittites primarily in Canaan, especially around Hebron (Genesis 23) and the region of Gibeon (Joshua 9). Some passages imply a presence in the broader Levantine area, possibly extending into Syrian territories.
- Political Status: The Hittites are sometimes described as an independent nation (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:1) and at other times as a subgroup within the wider Canaanite confederation. No biblical passage provides a detailed political structure for them.
- Cultural Interactions: The narrative of Abraham purchasing a burial plot from the Hittites (Genesis 23) indicates economic and social interaction. The account of the Hittite “daughter” of King of the Hittites taken by Abraham (Genesis 24) suggests marital alliances. Conversely, the destruction of the Hittite cities during the Israelite conquest (Joshua 11) reflects military conflict.
- Religious Practices: The biblical text does not elaborate on Hittite religious rites. However, comparative studies note that the Anatolian Hittites practiced a polytheistic system with a pantheon that included the storm god Teshub and the sun goddess Arinniti. Whether the Biblical Hittites shared these beliefs remains unconfirmed.
- Archaeological Correlates: Material culture specifically identifiable as “Biblical Hittite” is not definitively established. Some scholars associate certain Late Bronze Age ceramics and fortified settlements in northern Canaan with Hittite influence, but conclusive attribution is lacking.
Related Topics
- Hittite Empire (Anatolia) – The ancient Near Eastern kingdom centered at Hattusa, best known from cuneiform archives and monumental architecture.
- Canaanites – The broader cultural and ethnic group inhabiting the Levant during the Bronze Age, of which the Hittites are considered a component in the biblical tradition.
- Genesis 23 and 24 – Key biblical narratives involving interactions between Abraham and the Hittites.
- Joshua 9–11 – Accounts of the Gibeonite deception and the subsequent Israelite campaigns against the Hittites and other peoples.
- Neo‑Hittite States – Successor polities in northern Syria and southeastern Anatolia during the early Iron Age, sometimes linked to the biblical references.
- Biblical Ethnography – The study of peoples listed in the Hebrew Bible, their historical reality, and the textual sources that mention them.