Resen
Resen is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Mesopotamia in modern-day Iraq. Known today as Qaryat as Salamiyah. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Resen appears in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:12 as one of the cities founded by Nimrod in the land of Assyria. The text describes it as located between Nineveh and Calah, noting that it was part of 'the great city.' Resen thus belongs to the cluster of Mesopotamian urban centers that represented the earliest organized civilizations after the flood. Whether the designation 'great city' refers to Resen itself or to the entire urban complex encompassing Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen has been debated by scholars. Resen's inclusion in Nimrod's building activities connects it to the broader biblical theme of human empire-building in the ancient Near East. These Assyrian cities would later become instruments of divine judgment against Israel, as the Neo-Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC. The Genesis record thus plants seeds that reach full fruition centuries later, when the cities Nimrod founded become the very powers God uses to discipline His people for their unfaithfulness to the covenant.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Resen has been tentatively identified with Qaryat as-Salamiyah or, more commonly, with the archaeological site of Karamles (ancient Kar-Mullissu), located between the ruins of Nineveh (Kuyunjik) and Nimrud (ancient Calah) in northern Iraq. The approximately thirty-five kilometers between these two major Assyrian capitals contain multiple ancient settlement mounds. Some scholars have proposed the site of Selamiyeh or Hamam Ali as candidates. Definitive identification remains elusive, as no inscription naming Resen has been recovered. The region between Nineveh and Calah along the Tigris River was densely settled in antiquity, as confirmed by extensive archaeological survey work. Much of the area's archaeological heritage has suffered damage during recent conflicts in Iraq.
Verse Appearances (1)
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Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →