Hittites between Tradition & History
Who were the Hittites? This question is not as simple as it appears. There is plenty of evidence from archaeology and the Biblical texts, but the two sources of information are not compatible, which, adds an element of mystery to this ancient Kingdom.
The Hittites play a prominent role at key places in the Hebrew Bible. At one time the they were one of three superpowers in the ancient world, according to the Biblical Archaeological Society.
Hittites are repeatedly mentioned, throughout the “Tanakh” (the canonical collection of Hebrew scriptures, including: the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Ketuvim) or “Hebrew Bible” that (along with Deuteronomy, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and Joshua) belongs to a specific historical tradition “Deuteronomy history”, also known as the “Christian Old Testament”, as the adversaries of the Israelites and their God.
The “Pentateuch” better known as “Torah” is the compilation of the first five books of the “Hebrew Bible” (namely: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, often referred to as “The Five Books of Moses”) also known in the Jewish tradition as the “Historical Books”, presents the Hittites as one of the stereotyped 'Seven Nations' in the “Promised Land”, to be eradicated by the Israelites.
Yet, in (Joshua 1:4) the land of the Hittites is said to extend from the wilderness and this Lebanon, and from the Euphrates unto the great sea.
While, in (Gen. 15:20; 23; 26:34, et al., Ex. 3:8, et al.; Deut. 7:1; Josh. 3:10; 9:1; et al.; Judg. 3:5; I Kings 9:20 = II Chron. 8:7; Ezra 9:1; Neh. 9:8), passages the Hittites are mentioned as part of the pre-Israelite population of Palestine especially of its mountainous part (Num. 13:29; Josh. 11:3).
In (Genesis 23:8-19), Abraham bought the field of Ephron the Hittite located in Machpelah and buried his wife, Sara, in the cave facing Mamre.
In (l Samuel. 26:6), Ahimelech of the Hittites, who were among the original inhabitants of Canaan, was one of the men who joined David when fleeing from Saul. He was one of David's warriors, as he is mentioned with Abishai, a relative of David; Zeruiah, David’s sister; and Abiathar, son of Nob Temple's high-priest. Ahimelech was only one of many foreigners who attached themselves to David, although most of the others joined David after he was made King.
In (Judges 1:18) the seventh book of the Hebrew Bible, the traitor from Bethel who led the Hebrews into the city is said to have gone to live among the Hittites where he built a city called Luz.
Also in (Judges 1:26), when the Israelites captured Bethel, they allowed one man to escape, and he, went to the "land of the Hittites" where he founded the settlement of Luz.
In (2 Samuel 23.24-39), Uriah the Hittite is named in the list of the 30, which, may have been David's elite officers' corps formed during his flight from Saul. In accordance with David's plan to possess Bathsheba, Uriah was killed while fighting for Israel.
In (Genesis 27:46) Rebekah objected to Jacob marrying a Hittite woman.
In (Genesis 36:2), Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite.
In (Genesis 26:34), Esau married Hittite women, and Rebecca despised them.
In (1 Kings 7:8; 11:1), Solomon’s wives were to have included the daughter of Pharaoh, as well as women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite origins. In King Solomon's era the Hittites are depicted in the Old Testament along with Syria as among his powerful neighbors.
Whereas in (Ezekiel 16.3, 45), Prophet Ezekiel, according to some degrades Israel with the metaphor of a Hittite mother by acknowledging Israel’s Canaanite origins, even if there is a polemical tinge:
“Thus says the Lord Yahweh to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite.”
?
Food for thought!