Where is Hazor-hadattah in the Bible?

Hazor-hadattah is mentioned only once in the Bible, in a list of cities in the territory of Judah. It is located in the southern region of Judea (Joshua 15:25).

What does the name Hazor-hadattah mean?

The name Hazor-hadattah means 'New Hazor' or 'New Village' in Hebrew. This distinguishes it from other cities named Hazor, like the large fortified city in the north.

Why is Hazor-hadattah significant?

Its significance lies in its inclusion as part of the inheritance given to the tribe of Judah, showing the fulfillment of God's promise to allot the Promised Land to the Israelites (Joshua 15:20-21).

Hazor-hadattah

cityOld TestamentJudea

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Modern Name

Har Hezron

Country

Israel

Region

Judea

Coordinates

31.3733, 35.2336

Hazor-hadattah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Har Hezron. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Hazor-hadattah, meaning 'New Hazor,' is recorded in Joshua 15:25 as one of the cities in the southernmost portion of Judah's inheritance, located in the Negev district. The name distinguishes this settlement from older or more prominent places named Hazor, suggesting it was a newer foundation or a settlement distinct from a more established Hazor in the vicinity. It appears alongside Kerioth-hezron (also called Hazor) in the same verse, reflecting the geographic density of similarly named towns in this frontier region. The town formed part of the extensive tribal allotment Joshua conducted to apportion the promised land among Israel's tribes according to divine instruction. Though Hazor-hadattah receives no further narrative attention in Scripture, its inclusion in the detailed Judahite city lists of Joshua 15 reflects the meticulous biblical concern for preserving the record of Israel's full inheritance. The Negev settlements served as a southern buffer zone for Israelite territory against desert peoples and later Edomite encroachment.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Hazor-hadattah is tentatively identified with Har Hezron (also written Khirbet el Qaryatein in some traditions) in the southern Judean hills near the Negev border. The identification is based on geographical positioning within the sequence of towns listed in Joshua 15:21–32. Archaeological surveys in the southern Judean highlands and northern Negev have yielded Iron Age I and II material culture at numerous small sites, consistent with the period of Israelite settlement described in Joshua. No targeted excavation specifically aimed at identifying Hazor-hadattah has been published. The area's harsh terrain and limited water resources suggest these settlements were small and agriculturally marginal.

Verse Appearances (1)

Josh

Josh 15:25

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

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