Hara
“Mountainous or hill country”
Summary
Hara was a province of Assyria to which certain Israelite captives from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh were deported by Tiglath-pileser.
☩Biblical Reference
Hara appears only in Chronicles where it is recorded that Tiglath-pileser 'brought the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan.' The parallel passage in 2 Kings omits Hara and instead mentions 'in the cities of the Medes.' This has led some scholars to suggest that Hara was either a part of Media or another name for that country.
☩Location and Identification
Hara is joined with Halah, Habor, and the river Gozan, all situated in Western Assyria between the Tigris and Euphrates. The name, meaning 'mountainous,' may refer to the highland region north of Gozan, known by classical authors as Mons Masius. Some scholars have suggested identification with Haran, but the Hebrew words are radically different. The word may simply signify 'hill country' in the Chronicles passage.
Related Verses1 mention
1 Chronicles· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Hara," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Hara," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).