The Rediscovery of the Hittites: Confirming Biblical Accounts
For centuries, the Bible’s references to the Hittites left many sceptics questioning whether such a people had ever existed. In passages from Genesis to 2 Kings, the Hittites are mentioned as a powerful group inhabiting Canaan and surrounding territories (Genesis 15:20; 2 Kings 7:6). Yet for a long time, no extra-biblical evidence could be found, leading some to dismiss these references as myth or folklore. That was until a remarkable archaeological discovery in the 19th and early 20th centuries transformed our understanding of ancient history and confirmed what the Bible had claimed all along.
A Lost Empire Rediscovered
The breakthrough came in 1834 when French archaeologist Charles Texier stumbled upon ruins in modern-day Turkey at a site called Boğazköy (later identified as Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire). Subsequent excavations revealed a vast city with walls, gates, and cuneiform tablets that spoke of kings, gods, and wars. Over the following decades, scholars pieced together the significance of these finds, realising that they had rediscovered the long-lost Hittite civilisation.
By the early 20th century, the deciphering of these cuneiform inscriptions confirmed that this was indeed the capital of the Hittites, a people who had dominated large parts of Anatolia and the Levant around 1600–1200 BC. This discovery silenced many of the critics who had doubted the Bible’s historical reliability.
The Treaty with Egypt: The Oldest Surviving Peace Accord
One of the most compelling archaeological confirmations of the Hittites’ biblical presence is the discovery of the Hittite-Egyptian Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Kadesh. Found in the archives of both Hattusa and the Egyptian temple at Karnak, this treaty was signed between Pharaoh Ramses II and the Hittite King Hattusili III around 1259 BC.
The treaty is a fascinating document: it includes clauses about mutual defence, extradition, and the return of fugitives. Remarkably, the text echoes the language of covenants found in the Bible, highlighting the common cultural and political practices of the ancient Near East. This historical accord confirms not only the existence of the Hittites as a major power but also the kind of complex international diplomacy that the Bible describes in its own covenantal language.
The Bible and the Hittites: A Faith Experiment Perspective
As a faith experimenter, I’ve often found that the rediscovery of lost empires like the Hittites challenges our assumptions about the Bible’s reliability. For decades, historians dismissed these people as mere myth. Yet archaeology eventually caught up to the Bible’s ancient witness, confirming what had been written thousands of years before.
Consider what the prophet Isaiah recorded: “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 46:9-10, NKJV). God declares the end from the beginning, inviting us to test His word against the evidence. The rediscovery of the Hittites is a powerful example of how historical and archaeological evidence can validate the Bible’s account, offering a challenge to test and confirm these ancient claims through real-world investigation.
A Challenge to Experiment
So here’s the invitation: take this evidence and see how it reshapes your understanding of the Bible. What else might Scripture say that history has yet to catch up to? In your own life, where might there be truths worth testing—about peace, restoration, or the God who invites us into relationship?
Like the rediscovery of the Hittites, your faith experiment can begin with an open heart, a willingness to dig deep, and a trust that what God says will stand the test of time.
