By Dr. Randall Smith
Courtesy of Christian Travel Study Programs, Ltd.
Canaanite Hazor, a metropolis comparable in size to the biggest cities in the ancient Near East, was a force to be reckoned with. Not only was it well fortified, but it towered above the main thoroughfare between Syria and Egypt.
Nevertheless, the rulers of Hazor and other cities in the region feared the Israelites who had conquered other parts of the Promised Land. In order to repulse the Israelites, King Jabin of Hazor initiated a union between his city and others in the Galilee that “made camp together at the Waters of Merom, to fight against Israel” [Joshua 11:5].
Joshua executed a successful surprise assault before the Canaanite armies could consolidate their forces on their defeat. He ordered the total destruction of Hazor.
“So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel?.Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds-except Hazor, which Joshua burned” [Joshua 11:7-13].
Hazor is mentioned again in the first book of Kings, this time together with Gezer and Megiddo as part of Solomon’s vast building and fortification program. The renewed and well-protected city now had everything it needed to survive as a settlement: fertile land, a trade route and heights that enabled its soldiers to spy an attacking army miles away. All it lacked was access to water during a possible enemy siege. That problem was solved by construction of a monumental, sophisticated water system in the 9th century B.C.
Despite all the fortifications, Hazor was destroyed by the Assyrians and her people led into exile. “In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria” [2 Kings 15:29]. The city never regained even a shadow of its former glory, and today its ruins are on view at Hazor National Park.
© Christian Travel Study Programs, Ltd.
