Hazor
Hazor is a region mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Arabia in modern-day Iraq. Known today as Dumat al Jandal. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Hazor in the context of Arabia refers to a region or confederation of tent-dwelling Arabian tribes addressed in the prophetic oracles of Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 49:28–33, the prophet delivers a divine judgment oracle against 'Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.' Unlike the city-states of Canaan, this Hazor appears to represent semi-nomadic Arab communities living without walls or gates in the open desert, described as those who 'dwell alone, with no gates or bars, who dwell alone' (Jeremiah 49:31). The oracle announces that Nebuchadnezzar would sweep through these desert peoples, scattering them to the winds. The identification of this Hazor with the region around Dumat al Jandal (ancient Dumah) in the Arabian interior places it along major trade routes crossing the Syrian desert. This passage is significant as it demonstrates that no nation or people, however remote, lies outside the sovereign judgment of God, and that Babylon served as His instrument of discipline across a vast geographical range.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Dumat al Jandal, the modern identification for this Arabian Hazor, is an oasis located in the Jawf region of northwestern Saudi Arabia. Ancient Dumah was a significant caravan hub and is attested in Assyrian royal inscriptions as a staging point for campaigns against Arabian tribes. Nebuchadnezzar's campaigns against Arabian peoples in 599–598 BC are referenced in the Babylonian Chronicle. The region contains pre-Islamic ruins including the ancient Marid Castle and the mosque of Omar, indicating long-term habitation. Archaeological work at Dumat al Jandal has uncovered Nabataean and pre-Islamic remains, though Bronze and Iron Age material culture at the site remains less fully documented.
Verse Appearances (3)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
- Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Lawrence, D. et al. (2025) Villages to Empires: a settlement dataset for the Southern Levant. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15111732. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]