Gozan in the Bible — Meaning & Definition

Easton's Bible Dictionary 1897

A region in Central Asia to which the Israelites were carried away captive (2 Kings 17:6; 1 Chr. 5:26; 2 Kings 19:12; Isa. 37:12). It was situated in Mesopotamia, on the river Habor (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11), the Khabur, a tributary of the Euphrates. The “river of Gozan” (1 Chr. 5:26) is probably the upper part of the river flowing through the province of Gozan, now Kizzel-Ozan.

Smith's Bible Dictionary 1863

seems in the Authorized Version of (1 Chronicles 5:26) to be the name of a river, but in (2 Kings 17:6) and 2Kin 18:11 It is evidently applied not to a river but a country. Gozan was the tract to which the Israelites were carried away captive by Pul, Tiglathpileser and Shalmaneser, or possibly Sargon. It is probably identical with the Gauzanitis of Ptolemy, and I may be regarded as represented by the Mygdonia of other writers. It was the tract watered by the Habor, the modern Khabour , the great Mesopotamian affluent of the Euphrates.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 1915

go'-zan (gozan; Gozan, Codex Vaticanus, Gozar in 2Ki 17:6, Chozar in 1Ch 5:26): A place in Assyria to which Israelites were deported on the fall of Samaria (2Ki 17:6; 18:11; 1Ch 5:26). It is also mentioned in a letter of Sennacherib to Hezekiah (2Ki 19:12; Isa 37:12). The district is that named Guzana by the Assyrians, and Gauzanitis by Ptolemy, West of Nisibis, with which, in the Assyrian geographical list (WAI, II, 53, l. 43), it is mentioned as the name of a city (alu Guzana; alu Nasibina). It became an Assyrian province, and rebelled in 759 BC, but was again reduced to subjection.

See HABOR; HALAH.

James Orr