Hazor
“Village or enclosure”
Summary
Hazor was a major Canaanite city in northern Palestine, called "the head of all those kingdoms," which was conquered and burned by Joshua and later became an important Israelite city fortified by Solomon.
☩Canaanite Capital
Hazor was located near the waters of Lake Merom (Huleh) and was the seat of Jabin, a powerful Canaanite king who summoned all the neighboring kings to oppose Joshua. Despite their vast coalition, Joshua defeated them and burned Hazor—the only northern city he destroyed by fire, because it was too strong and important to leave standing in his rear. Scripture calls it "the head of all those kingdoms."
☩In the Period of Judges
By the time of Deborah, another king named Jabin ruled from Hazor and oppressed Israel for twenty years through his general Sisera. Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera led to Jabin's destruction. The repetition of the name Jabin may indicate it was a dynastic title, like Pharaoh in Egypt.
☩Solomon's Fortification
Solomon fortified Hazor along with Megiddo and Gezer as part of his system of chariot cities. The city was eventually captured by Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, who deported its inhabitants to Assyria. Archaeological excavations have confirmed Hazor's importance as the largest tell in Israel.
Related Verses19 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Hazor," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Hazor," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Hazor," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Hazor," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).