### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Gôwzân**, represented by `{{H1470}}`, refers to a province of Assyria. The word's definition suggests a connection to a quarry, as a place for cutting stones. It appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently placing it within the geography of the Assyrian empire during a pivotal time in Israel's history.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, **Gôwzân** is primarily known as a destination for exiled Israelites. After the king of Assyria `{{H804}}` conquered Samaria, the people of Israel `{{H3478}}` were carried away `{{H1540}}` and settled in various Assyrian territories, including "Halah and in Habor by the river of **Gozan**" ([[2 Kings 17:6]]; [[2 Kings 18:11]]). This event is also recorded in 1 Chronicles, where the God of Israel `{{H430}}` stirred the king of Assyria to carry away the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to locations including the "river **Gozan**" [[1 Chronicles 5:26]]. In a different context, Assyrian officials list **Gôwzân** among the nations their fathers destroyed `{{H7843}}`, questioning whether the gods `{{H430}}` of those lands could deliver `{{H5337}}` them ([[Isaiah 37:12]]; [[2 Kings 19:12]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several other locations are mentioned in direct connection with **Gôwzân**, defining its geographical and historical context:
* `{{H2477}}` **Chălach** (Halah): A region of Assyria where Israelite exiles were placed alongside those in Gozan [[2 Kings 17:6]]. Its origin is listed as probably foreign.
* `{{H2249}}` **Châbôwr** (Habor): Defined as "united," this is a river of Assyria and another site of Israelite resettlement mentioned in conjunction with Halah and Gozan [[1 Chronicles 5:26]].
* `{{H2771}}` **Chârân** (Haran): A place named alongside Gozan in the Assyrians' list of conquered territories whose gods were powerless to save them [[Isaiah 37:12]]. Its name means "parched."
* `{{H7530}}` **Retseph** (Rezeph): This Assyrian place is also listed with Gozan and Haran as a city destroyed by the Assyrian empire, demonstrating its military might [[2 Kings 19:12]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1470}}` is tied directly to the major biblical themes of judgment and divine sovereignty.
* **A Symbol of Exile:** **Gôwzân** serves as a concrete marker of the fulfillment of judgment against Israel. Its name is tied to the historical event of the Assyrian king carrying away `{{H1540}}` the northern tribes to a foreign land [[2 Kings 18:11]].
* **Evidence of Imperial Power:** The Assyrians cite their conquest of **Gôwzân** as proof of their might and the weakness of other gods `{{H430}}`. The question, "Have the gods of the nations delivered them... as Gozan?" is a rhetorical challenge intended to intimidate Hezekiah [[Isaiah 37:12]].
* **A Place of Captivity:** For the exiled Israelites, **Gôwzân** represented a place of captivity, a remote location under the rule of Assyria `{{H804}}` where they were taken after being removed from their homeland [[1 Chronicles 5:26]].
### Summary
In summary, **Gôwzân** `{{H1470}}` is more than a geographical footnote. Though mentioned only a few times, it plays a specific and significant role in the biblical account. It marks the location of Israel's exile, standing as a tangible symbol of the consequences of disobedience. Furthermore, it is used within the narrative as a testament to the might of the Assyrian empire, which unknowingly acted as an instrument of divine judgment.
TRV