Aznoth-tabor
Aznoth-tabor is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tel Govel. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Aznoth-tabor appears once in the Hebrew Bible, in Joshua 19:34, as a boundary point defining the territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali during the division of the promised land under Joshua. The name itself is suggestive: "Aznoth" likely derives from a Hebrew root related to "ears" or "peaks," and "Tabor" connects it to the prominent Mount Tabor that dominates the lower Galilee landscape. Aznoth-tabor thus appears to have been a locality lying near the slopes or flanks of Mount Tabor, marking where Naphtali's southern boundary met the territory of other tribes. Though the site is mentioned only in passing within the administrative land allotment texts, its position near Mount Tabor places it in one of the most historically and theologically significant landscapes of the Hebrew Bible. Mount Tabor itself would later become the site of Deborah and Barak's decisive victory over Sisera (Judg. 4–5), and its environs hosted important events in Israel's settlement of Canaan. Aznoth-tabor thus served as a quiet witness to the unfolding of the covenant promises of land made to the patriarchs.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Aznoth-tabor is tentatively identified with Tel Govel (also known as Khirbet el-Jibne), situated in the lower Galilee not far from the western slopes of Mount Tabor. The site has not been extensively excavated, but archaeological surveys in the region have documented evidence of occupation from the Bronze and Iron Ages. The Jezreel Valley and the area around Mount Tabor have been subject to broader regional surveys that confirm dense settlement patterns during the period of Israelite occupation. The precise identification of Aznoth-tabor with Tel Govel rests on phonetic similarity and geographical positioning within the Naphtalite boundary list rather than on conclusive excavation data.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
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]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]