Joshua 1:4

Land of the Hittites. This expression is omitted in the Septuagint, perhaps because the memory of Hittite greatness had already been forgotten when that translation was made. Prior to the recovery of knowledge about the Hittites, with the excavation of Khattushash (Boghazkoy), the old Hittite capital, critics challenged the accuracy of the Scripture record in ascribing so extensive a dominion to the Hittites. Until the late 19th century only the Bible had preserved so much as even the name of this people, who at one time exercised almost as great an influence as Egypt or Assyria.

Now we know that the Hittite empire arose toward the close of the 17th century B.C. under its King Labarna. In the second half of the 16th century, under their King Murshilish I, the Hittites raided Babylonia and sacked the capital.

The Hittite empire reached its zenith under Shubbiluliuma, its greatest ruler, about 1375-1335 B.C. About 1200 B.C. the Hittite empire was destroyed by the Sea Peoples. At one time the Hittite territory included Asia Minor and extended southward to Damascus, from Lebanon to the Euphrates. During the 14th century a king with the Hittite name Abdu-Khepa ruled in Jerusalem. There were also, no doubt, city states under Hittite control in Palestine proper. Jerusalem seems to have been founded by Amorites and Hittites (Ezekiel 16:45). There were proto-Hittites in Hebron at the time of Abraham (see Genesis 23:3). The Hittites were one of the seven nations whose land was promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:20). This ancient nation thus provides us with a noteworthy example of the historical accuracy of God’s Word. The archeologist’s spade confirms, and does not contradict, Scripture.