[Aryans], northern Indo-Europeans who controlled a large portion of [[Mesopotamia]] in 1650 B.C.
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The Hittites were a northern Indo-European people who called themselves “Aryans” (like the Persians)—a term meaning “noble people”.
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In 1650 B.C., they were able to gain control of most of Mesopotamia largely because of their advanced warfare, including horse-drawn chariots. Under their rule, life in the Babylonian empire did not flourish artistically or culturally as it did under others’ rule.
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The Hittite civilization is mentioned in the Bible many times. One example is when the Hittites lived in Canaan when Israel was conquering the land under Joshua (Joshua 9:1, 2; 11:3). Archaeologists did not believe a Hittite civilization existed until 1906-1907 and 1911-1912 when thousands of cuneiform tablets were discovered in Boghaz-keui a Hittite capital.
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In the Old Testament, the Hittites are mentioned more than 50 times, and are described as having descended from Noah’s great-grandson Heth (descended from Ham). Because no trace of this ancient civilization could be found for a long time, skeptics claimed it proved that the Bible was an unreliable source. However, in 1906-1907 and 1911-1912 when thousands of cuneiform tablets were discovered in Boghaz-keui a Hittite capital. The finds did much to further the credibility of the Bible as a historical record.
The Hittites were descendants of Heth, the son of Canaan and grandson of Ham (Gen 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 (2 Sam. 11:3-27).
The Hittites were descendants of Heth, the son of Canaan and grandson of Ham (Gen 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 (2 Sam. 11:3-27).