Ep.4 Lost Cities of the bible vol.2
Welcome back to the Pray and Wait Blog.
In this episode of ‘Logic in Faith’, we are exploring the lost cities of the Bible. The Bible has always been, and still is to this day, teaching us stuff that we did not know. For many years, scholars and historians have questioned the Bible’s authenticity by not having “proof” that certain things existed. The Bible does tell us where these things are, though, and it’s only when we have looked, we have found them. There is a lesson there somewhere. We are going to take an in-depth look at this ancient civilisation because its importance is not only arming you with factual evidence that the Bible is what it says it is, but it’s also accurate and steadfast.
In Volume 2 of ‘Lost Cities of the Bible’, we are looking at the ‘Hittites’. Who are they? When are they mentioned in the Bible, and why is it a significant find? Well, the Hittites were an ancient Indo-European civilisation that came to power during the Bronze Age in Anatolia (Turkey). They date back to 1700-1200 BC. In 1700 BC, Hattusili I founded the Hittite state, adopting the ‘Land of Hatti’, where they grew and developed into an intelligent civilisation, albeit very unstable and inconsistent due to the assassination of multiple kings. The Hittite language is the oldest known Indo-European written language, using cuneiform writings known for their wedge-shaped markings into clay tablets. 1400 BC was known as the golden age for the Hittite empire as they established themselves as a superpower among nations like Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. King Suppiluliuma I, known as the greatest king of the Hittite empire, was known for defeating Mitanni and taking control of the Syrian empire. In 1274 BC, the Battle of Kadesh took place between the Hittite people and the Egyptian empire. Known as one of the largest chariot battles known in history, the two superpowers ended the war in a stalemate. Later, King Hattusili II and King Ramesses II would sign the first recorded peace treaty, which we have documented with a copy in the Hittite cuneiform and a copy in Egyptian hieroglyphs, both of which live in the United Nations next to each other to this day. 1200 BC saw the collapse of the Hittite empire after multiple invasions from sea people, internal instabilities, famine, and trade collapse. Finally, the capital Hattusa was burned to the ground and abandoned. After the empire had fallen, smaller Neo-Hittite cities survived up until 700 BC in places like Syria and southern Anatolia until they were absorbed by the Assyrian empire.
The Bible mentions Hittites long before historians believed they existed. Although, for a long time, many historians and scholars questioned the size of the Hittite empire and if it even existed. The Bible mentions the Hittites as early as the book of Genesis, where in chapter 23, Abraham mentions buying the Cave of Machpelah from “Ephron the Hittite”. Then later in chapter 26, where Esau marries a Hittite woman. Other early mentions in the Bible are found in Exodus 3:8, Deuteronomy 7:1, and Joshua 1:4. So we see clearly that the Hittites are well documented in the early Bible but also in later books of the Bible, where 2 Samuel 11 mentions “Uriah the Hittite,” who was a loyal soldier of King David and husband of Bathsheba. Hittite kings are also mentioned in the book of 1 Kings 10.
There are many mentions of the empire and more specifically, individuals from the empire, but of course, because we didn’t have solid evidence of this, many historians and scholars claimed that the Hittite empire was either mythical or exaggerated until 1833 when French explorer Charles Texier documented monumental ruins in Bogazkale, central Anatolia. These findings included giant walls and gateways. Although the findings were documented, their significance wasn’t fully appreciated until 1893 when Ernest Chantre dug trial trenches at the site, exposing the great temple and the first cuneiform tablet. These findings were pivotal in that they gave us solid evidence that something ancient and literate lived there. In 1901, German scholar Waldemar Belck conducted preliminary visits to the site, finding more tablet fragments. In 1906, major excavations took place by German archaeologist Hugo Winckler and an Istanbul archaeologist, Theodore Makridi, where they uncovered Hattusa. Found there were over 25,000 cuneiform tablets written in multiple languages, prayers, laws, treaties, and royal archives, revealing the size of the empire, their advanced laws and diplomacy, the history, and the kings exactly as mentioned in the Bible. City gates and walls found included the Lion Gate and the Sphinx Gate, the Great temple was found, and many other residential quarters, citadel areas, administrative rooms, and cultic spaces.
One of the most revolutionary findings of the early excavations was the decipherment of the Hittite language by Czech linguist Bedrich Hrozny, who used the Hattusas Hittite texts to prove that Hittite was an Indo-European language, the oldest of that family, which radically changed the outlook on Indo-European studies and confirmed the Hittites as a major ancient superpower.
In 1931, after the First World War, the German Archaeological Institute continued their excavations, finding a further 30,000 tablets, with more being uncovered to this day.
The importance of the findings is not only historical but gives us sure foundations that the Bible is reliable. It shows that the Bible names an entire civilisation correctly even though history had forgotten it; it describes legal practices accurately, i.e. the peace treaties down to simple transactions like a vocal contract for Abraham’s cave in front of people making it public, legally binding, and paid in full. Finally, the timeframes that the Hittite people are mentioned in the Bible align perfectly with archaeological findings.
What I find crazy as I’m writing this blog is the thought that over time, an entire ancient empire superpower civilisation can be lost in history and forgotten, yet still to this day the Lord doesn’t forget you and me as individuals. The creator of all things knows you by name and wants a relationship with you as Isaiah 43:1 tells us:
“But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
How amazing is that?! God individually, we are created by, summoned, redeemed and delivered us. It’s mind-blowing when you think about it. That’s how important you are to our God. Loved and not forgotten thousands of years on. The Bible has a consistent way of informing us that it’s legit, we just need to look hard enough. Jesus himself even tells us in Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Lets pray.
“Father,
We come to you today with joy in our hearts that although man might question your word and existence, you always come through. When we look hard enough, you always meet us father. Even though we do not deserve it, you are always there. Today we pray for the person reading this blog and praying the prayer right now. If they do not know you father, we pray that you would meet them and stir their hearts. If they do know you father we pray for a renewal of confidence in your word and in the fact that you are who you say you are. May we take from this blog something positive Jesus that you love us and want a relationship with us. We pray that you’ll continue to walk with us day by day. We thank you for all we have and surrender to you.
Amen “
