Bible Encyclopedias
Habor

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hā´bor ( חבור , ḥābhōr ; Ἁβώρ , Habō̇r , Ἁβιώρ , Habiō̇r ; Isidor of Charax, Aburas ( Ἀβουράς ), Zosias, Aboras ):


1. Its Position and Course

Is described in 2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 18:11 (compare 1 Chronicles 5:26 ) as "the river of Gozan." It is the Arabic Khabur , and flows in a southerly direction from several sources in the mountains of Karaj Dāgh (Mons Masius ), which, in the 37th parallel, flanks the valley of the Tigris on the West. The river ultimately joins the Euphrates after receiving its chief tributary, the Jaghjagha Su (Mygdonius ), at Circesium (Kirkisiyeh ).


2. Etymologies of Habor

The meaning of its name is doubtful, but Delitzsch has suggested a Sumerian etymology, namely, h̬abur , "the fish-waterway," or it may be connected with "mother H̬ubur ," a descriptive title of Tiāmat (see MERODACH; RAHAB ).


3. Historical References

Layard found several interesting Assyrian remains in the district, including man-headed bulls bearing the name of Mušeš - Ninip , possibly an Assyrian governor. Tiglath-pileser I (circa 1120 bc) boasts of having killed 10 mighty elephants in Haran and on the banks of the Habor; and Aššur - naṣir - apli (circa 880 bc), after conquering H̬aršit ( H̬arrit , H̬armis ), subjugated the tract around piate ša nâr H̬abur , "the mouths of the Habor." According to 2 Ki and 1 Chronicles, Shalmaneser 4 and Sargon transported the exiled Israelites thither. Philological considerations exclude the identification of the Chebar of Ezekiel 13 , etc., with the Habor.

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Habor'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​h/habor.html. 1915.