Jabin
“One who is intelligent or whom God observes”
Summary
The name of two Canaanite kings of Hazor who opposed Israel—one defeated by Joshua and another whose general Sisera was defeated by Deborah and Barak.
☩Jabin I: Defeated by Joshua
The first Jabin was king of Hazor and one of the most powerful princes in Canaan when Israel invaded under Joshua. After the defeat of the southern coalition under Adonizedek, Jabin assembled the northern kings near the waters of Merom with an army 'as the sand upon the seashore,' including many horses and chariots. Despite this formidable force, Joshua surprised and utterly routed them, burned Hazor, and slew Jabin. This victory was regarded as the crowning achievement of the conquest, leaving only scattered resistance.
☩Jabin II: The Oppressor
A later king of Hazor, probably a descendant of the first Jabin, oppressed Israel for twenty years with his 900 iron chariots commanded by his general Sisera. The title 'king of Canaan' indicates unusual power and territorial control. Deborah the prophetess rallied Israel, and Barak won a decisive victory at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, though Jabin himself remained a shadowy figure compared to Sisera. The war continued until Jabin was completely overthrown.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Jabin," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Jabin," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Jabin," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.George Morrish, "Jabin," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).