Hiel חִיאֵל
The Bethelite who rebuilt Jericho.
Who is Hiel in the Bible?
Hiel the Bethelite was a man who rebuilt the city of Jericho during the reign of King Ahab of Israel, as recorded in 1 Kings 16:34. Centuries earlier, Joshua had cursed Jericho upon its destruction, warning that whoever rebuilt the city would lose his firstborn and youngest sons in the process. Despite knowing this curse, Hiel proceeded with the reconstruction, and the prophecy was fulfilled when his son Abiram died as the foundation was laid and his son Segub died when the gates were set up. His story serves as a powerful testament to the certainty of God's word and stands as a warning against disobedience to divine commands.
Biography
Hiel the Bethelite is mentioned in 1Ki.16.34 as the man who rebuilt the city of Jericho during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. Jericho had been destroyed and cursed by Joshua centuries earlier (Jos.6.26), with a warning that whoever rebuilt the city would do so at the cost of his firstborn and youngest sons.
Despite this curse, Hiel rebuilt Jericho, and as a result, he lost his firstborn son, Abiram, when he laid the foundation, and his youngest son, Segub, when he set up the gates. This event is recorded as a fulfillment of Joshua's prophecy and a demonstration of the power of God's word.
Hiel's actions were in direct disobedience to God's command and showed a disregard for the history and spiritual significance of Jericho. His story serves as a warning against disobedience and the consequences of ignoring God's word.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 16:34
"In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Joshua son of Nun."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חִיאֵל |
Hiel
crificed his two sons. This seems to have been a custom prevalent among primitive peoples, the purpose being to ward off ill luck from the inhabitants, especially in a case where the destroyer had invoked a curse on him who presumed to rebuild. Numerous instances are brought to light in the excavations of Gezer (Macalister, Bible Side-Lights from the Mound of Gezer, chapter x). At first the very best was claimed as a gift to the deity, e.g. one's own sons; then some less valuable member of the community. When civilization prevented human sacrifice, animals were offered instead. The story of Abraham offering Isaac may be a trace of this old custom, the tenor of the story implying that at the time of the writing of the record, the custom was coming to be in disrepute. A similar instance is the offering of his eldest son by the king of Edom to appease the deity and win success in battle (2Ki 3:27; compare Mic 6:7). Various conjectures have been made as to the identity of this king. Ewald regarded him as a man of wealth and enterprise (unternehmender reicher Mann); Cheyne following Niebuhr makes it Jehu in disguise, putting 1Ki 16:34 after 2Ki 10:33; Winckler explains as folklore.
W. N. Stearns
he-er-ap'-o-lis (Hierapolis, "sacred city"): As the name implies, Hierapolis was a holy city. It was situated 6 miles from Laodicea and twice that distance from Colosse, on the road from Sardis to Apamea. Though it