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==Biblical references to the Hittites==

==Biblical references to the Hittites==

In the [[Old Testament]], the Hittites are mentioned more than 50 times, and are described as having descended from Ham's grandson Heth ([[Genesis]] 10:15). Biblical references to the Hittites include [[Abraham]]’s purchase of a burial site from Ephron the Hittite (Gen 23:1-20; 25:7-10) and [[King David]]'s murder of Uriah the Hittite to [[cover up]] his sin with Bathsheba ([[II Samuel]] 11:3-27).

In the [[Old Testament]], the Hittites are mentioned more than 50 times, and are described as having descended from Ham's grandson Heth ([[Genesis]] 10:15). Biblical references to the Hittites include [[Abraham]]’s purchase of a burial site from Ephron the Hittite (Gen 23:1-20; 25:7-10) and [[King David]]'s murder of Uriah the Hittite to [[cover up]] his sin with Bathsheba ([[II Samuel]] 11:3-27).

== Origin of the Hittites ==

== Origin of the Hittites ==

The Hittites (at one time called Hattians) were descendants of Canaan's second son Heth (Genesis 10:15 and I Chronicles 1:13) Canaan being a grandson of the Biblical Noah through his son Ham.  It is believed that the family grew into a tribe in the Balkans, migrating to Anatolia about 2500 B.C., and establishing themselves along the Halys River in what is now Central Turkey.  They then spread west and south in the peninsula before the time of Abraham (about 2,000 B.C.).<ref>Merrill C. Tenney, The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, (Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1963,1967), p. 356</ref>  After 2200 B.C. they were overrun by an Indo-European speaking people from the north, who became the ruling class, and the two cultures intermingled.<ref>Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 13, Hittites (Danbury: Connecticut:Americana Corporation, 1978), p. 250</ref>

The Hittites (at one time called Hattians) were descendants of Canaan's second son Heth (Genesis 10:15 and I Chronicles 1:13) Canaan being a grandson of the Biblical Noah through his son Ham.  It is believed that the family grew into a tribe in the Balkans, migrating to Anatolia about 2500 B.C., and establishing themselves along the Halys River in what is now Central Turkey.  They then spread west and south in the peninsula before the time of Abraham (about 2,000 B.C.).<ref>Merrill C. Tenney, The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, (Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1963,1967), p. 356</ref>  After 2200 B.C. they were overrun by an Indo-European speaking people from the north, who became the ruling class, and the two cultures intermingled.<ref>Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 13, Hittites (Danbury: Connecticut:Americana Corporation, 1978), p. 250</ref>

== Old Hittite Kingdom 1650-1500 B.C. ==

== Old Hittite Kingdom 1650-1500 B.C. ==

 

In 1650 B.C. Hattusulis I established the capitol at Hattusas, probably named after himself, and founded the Hittite Kingdom.  In 1500 B.C. Musilis I advanced down the Euphrates and captured Babylon.  Later he retreated, only to be assassinated upon his return home.  These years have been described as a time of anarchy.  The Old Kingdom uses horses and chariots and produced good bronze daggers.<ref>Compton's Encyclopedia, Vol. 11, Hittites, (Chicago:F.E. Compton Co., Division of Encyclopedia Britannica, 1971), p. 180</ref>

In 1650 B.C. Hattusulis I established the capitol at Hattusas, probably named after himself, and founded the Hittite Kingdom.  In 1500 B.C. Musilis I advanced down the Euphrates and captured Babylon.  Later he retreated, only to be assassinated upon his return home.  These years have been described as a time of anarchy.  The Old Kingdom uses horses and chariots and produced good brzone daggers.<ref>Compton's Encyclopedia, Vol. 11, Hittites, (Chicago:F.E. Compton Co., Division of Encyclopedia Britannica, 1971), p. 180</ref>

 

== Middle Hittite Kingdom 1500-1450 B.C. ==

== Middle Hittite Kingdom 1500-1450 B.C. ==

The Middle Kingdom years brought obscurity and decline.  The Hittites had expanded into Syria because of the strategic trade routes that passed there, but in these years Syria was wrested from them.  However, it appears that during these years, iron-making was begun amongst the Hittites.  Some feel this may have been the first time in the postdiluvian world that a people used iron.  The Hittites of this era raised horses, cattle, sheep, goats and bees, and manufactured cloth, shoes, pottery, and metal.<ref>Compton's, p. 180</ref>

The Middle Kingdom years brought obscurity and decline.  The Hittites had expanded into Syria because of the strategic trade routes that passed there, but in these years Syria was wrested from them.  However, it appears that during these years, iron-making was begun amongst the Hittites.  Some feel this may have been the first time in the postdiluvian world that a people used iron.  The Hittites of this era raised horses, cattle, sheep, goats and bees, and manufactured cloth, shoes, pottery, and metal.<ref>Compton's, p. 180</ref>

== New Hittite Kingdom 1450-1294 ==

== New Hittite Kingdom 1450-1294 ==

In 1450 Tudhaliyas I founded a new dynasty which brought the Hittites to the zenith of their power, followed by a period of decline.<ref>Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 13, Hittites, (Danbury, Connecticut,: Americana Corporation, 1978), p. 250.</ref> The Hittite state has been described as basically a military organization, which fits the Biblical picture of them as a warlike people and explains one of the reasons Israel feared them.<ref>Compton's, p. 180</ref>

In 1450 Tudhaliyas I founded a new dynasty which brought the Hittites to the zenith of their power, followed by a period of decline.<ref>Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 13, Hittites, (Danbury, Connecticut,: Americana Corporation, 1978), p. 250.</ref> The Hittite state has been described as basically a military organization, which fits the Biblical picture of them as a warlike people and explains one of the reasons Israel feared them.<ref>Compton's, p. 180</ref>

==Relations with Egypt and Assyria==

==Relations with Egypt and Assyria==

The Hittites were an important power in the 14th and 13th centuries B.C. and their expansion towards the Red Sea brought them into conflict with [[Egypt]], leading to numerous skirmishes and battles of which the [[Battle of Kadesh]] was the most important.

The Hittites were an important power in the 14th and 13th centuries B.C. and their expansion towards the Red Sea brought them into conflict with [[Egypt]], leading to numerous skirmishes and battles of which the [[Battle of Kadesh]] was the most important.

The Battle Of Kadesh was a result from growing tension between the superpowers of the ancient near east, Egypt, Hatti and Assyria, these nations were competing over the smaller states.

The Battle Of Kadesh was a result of growing tension between the superpowers of the ancient near east, Egypt, Hatti and Assyria, these nations were competing over the smaller states.

One of these small states was Amurru, located in present-day Syria, after it had been under Hittite influence during the 14th century B.C. it defected to Egypt in 1299 B.C.

One of these small states was Amurru, located in present-day Syria. After it had been under Hittite influence during the 14th century B.C. it defected to Egypt in 1299 B.C.

When the Hittites threatened to restore their power through means of violence, Amurru pleaded with [[Pharaoh]] [[Rameses II]] for help in 1274 and got it in the form of two Egyptian divisions, one of which, lead by Rameses II himself was ambushed near the village of Kadesh by a numerically superior Hittite chariot force, but the other division arrived just in time to prevent an Egyptian defeat.

When the Hittites threatened to restore their power through means of violence, Amurru pleaded with [[Pharaoh]] [[Rameses II]] for help in 1274 and got it in the form of two Egyptian divisions, one of which, lead by Rameses II himself was ambushed near the village of Kadesh by a numerically superior Hittite chariot force, but the other division arrived just in time to prevent an Egyptian defeat.

==Demise==

==Demise==

Hatti and [[Egypt]] two coexisted peacefully for seventy years, but by then Hatti had been weakened by [[Assyria]] and was sacked by the "Sea Peoples" a loose coalition of which the [[Philistines]] were a member.

Hatti and [[Egypt]] two coexisted peacefully for seventy years, but by then Hatti had been weakened by [[Assyria]] and was sacked by the "Sea Peoples" a loose coalition of which the [[Philistines]] were a member.

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[[Category:Ancient History]]

[[Category:Ancient History]]

[[Category:Biblical Peoples]]

[[Category:Biblical Peoples]]

[[Category:Archaeology]]

[[Category:Archaeology]]