Where was Daberath located in the Bible?

Daberath was an ancient city located in the territory of the tribe of Zebulun, within the region of Galilee (Joshua 19:12). Its modern site is identified as Horvat Devora in northern Israel.

What is Daberath known for in the Bible?

Daberath is listed as a border town for the tribe of Zebulun (Joshua 19:12) and was later designated as a Levitical city for the Gershonite clan (1 Chronicles 6:72). It was a city of practical and religious administrative importance.

Why is Daberath significant in biblical history?

Daberath's significance lies in its dual role as a territorial boundary marker and a Levitical city, showing how land was apportioned and how religious duties were geographically organized for the tribes of Israel.

Daberath

cityOld TestamentGalilee

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Modern Name

Horvat Devora

Country

Israel

Region

Galilee

Coordinates

32.6973, 35.3775

Daberath is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Horvat Devora. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.

Biblical History

Daberath was a Levitical city in the territory of Issachar, appearing in three Old Testament passages. It is first mentioned in the boundary description of Zebulun in Joshua 19:12, where the border turned eastward toward the sunrise to the territory of Chisloth-tabor, and went on to Daberath. It appears again in Joshua 21:28 as a Levitical city assigned from the tribe of Issachar to the Gershonite Levites, along with its pasturelands. The parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 6:72 confirms this assignment. Daberath's location at the foot of Mount Tabor made it a significant settlement at the junction of Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali. The slopes of Mount Tabor were the site of Deborah and Barak's great victory over Sisera (Judges 4-5), and Daberath lay in this strategically important zone. As a Levitical city, Daberath served the religious and civic needs of the surrounding Israelite population in the northern tribal territories.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Daberath is identified with modern Daburiyya (Dabburiye), an Arab village situated at the northwestern foot of Mount Tabor in lower Galilee, Israel. The modern name preserves the ancient toponym with remarkable consistency, providing strong philological evidence for the identification. The site has not been subject to systematic archaeological excavation, though surface surveys have identified ancient remains in the vicinity. The area around Mount Tabor has been surveyed as part of broader regional investigations of lower Galilee, yielding evidence of continuous occupation from the Bronze Age through the Byzantine period. The nearby Mount Tabor itself preserves remains of ancient fortifications and religious structures from multiple periods.

Verse Appearances (3)

Josh

Josh 19:12 Josh 21:28

1Chr

1Chr 6:72

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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