Chittim

Concept

Chittim (or Kittim) is a plural form in Genesis 10:4 designating the descendants of Kittim son of Javan (Greece), associated in the Table of Nations with the Mediterranean islands, particularly Cyprus — whose ancient capital Kition (Citium) is thought to preserve the name. In prophetic usage the term expands to cover the maritime powers of the western Mediterranean. Balaam's oracle speaks of ships from Chittim afflicting Assyria and Eber (Num. 24:24), and Isaiah refers to the isle of Chittim in his oracle against Tyre (Isa. 23:1, 12). Jeremiah uses Chittim as an example of western peoples more faithful to their gods than Israel is to the Lord (Jer. 2:10). In Daniel 11:30, ships of Chittim are understood as the Romans whose fleet turned back Antiochus IV Epiphanes from Egypt.