Hittites The Hittites were once unknown to secular history and thought to be a mythical people by some critics of biblical history. But information about the Hittites has been uncovered by archaeologists and historians, and they are now known to have had an empire centered in Asia Minor, with their capital at Hattusha (modern Baghazkoy). At times the empire extended over a much larger area without definite boundaries since it included city-states that were dependencies by treaty. They were of sufficient military strength to challenge the armies of Egypt under the vainglorious Rameses II (1279–1213 BC) and fought him to a standstill at Kadesh on the Orontes (ca. 1274 BC). In patriarchal times, the Hittites held power in cities like Hebron in Canaan. The progenitor of the Hittites, Heth, is listed second among the sons of Canaan in the “table of nations” (Gen 10:15; see also 1 Chr 1:13 and the textual footnote there). Most of the references to the sons of Heth appear in the narrative of the purchase of the cave of Machpelah by Abraham (Gen 23). Later, God commanded the people of Israel to destroy all the Hittites living in the Promised Land (Deut 7:1-2), but Israel did not comp...

Abraham “By faith . . . Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land. . . . He went without knowing where he was going. . . . By faith . . . Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him” (Heb 11:8, 17). These key events in Abraham’s life illustrate the faithful obedience for which he is best known. God called Abram from the city of Ur to become the patriarch of God’s people. Abram’s family relationships are recorded in Genesis 11:26-32. Terah had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Terah left Ur with Abram, Abram’s wife Sarai, and Lot, whose father, Haran, had died. On his way to Canaan, Terah settled in the city of Haran (11:31). God had called Abram to a new land while he was still in Ur (Acts 7:2-4). God told Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1). God blessed Abram by making a covenant with him that included promises of great blessing, numerous descendants, and a new land (12:1-3). These promises later saved Israel from destruction when they repeatedly failed to keep their covenant with God (see Lev 26:40-45). Abram left Haran at age se...