probably from גּוּז; a quarry (as a place of cutting stones); Gozan, a province of Assyria; Gozan.
Transliteration:Gôwzân
Pronunciation:go-zawn'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word גּוֹזָן (Gôwzân), `{{H1470}}`, is primarily a proper noun, designating a specific geographical location. Its etymological root is suggested to be גּוּז (guwz), which means "to cut off" or "to pass through," leading to a proposed base definition of "a quarry" or "a place of cutting stones." However, in all biblical occurrences, גּוֹזָן functions exclusively as a toponym, referring to a province within the Neo-Assyrian Empire. The "quarry" meaning, while etymologically plausible for the place name's origin, does not translate into its direct semantic range within the scriptural text. Its meaning is therefore restricted to its identity as a specific region in Mesopotamia.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Gozan appears in four verses within the Old Testament, consistently in the context of the Assyrian conquests and the deportation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
* **[[2 Kings 17:6]]**: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria and placed them in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." This verse marks the climactic end of the Northern Kingdom, detailing the destinations of the exiled Israelites. Gozan is identified as a region traversed by the Habor River, where a portion of the Israelite population was resettled.
* **[[2 Kings 18:11]]**: "The king of Assyria carried away Israel to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." This is a near-verbatim repetition of the previous verse, reinforcing the significance of Gozan as a primary location for the Israelite exiles.
* **[[2 Kings 19:12]]**: "Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?" Here, Gozan is listed among other conquered territories in the arrogant message from Sennacherib, King of Assyria, to King Hezekiah of Judah. This demonstrates Gozan's status as a long-established and subdued part of the Assyrian Empire, a testament to Assyrian power.
* **[[1 Chronicles 5:26]]**: "So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day." This passage confirms the deportation of the Transjordanian tribes (Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh) to the same region, including "the river Gozan." The phrase "unto this day" suggests that descendants of these exiles continued to reside in Gozan and the surrounding areas for a considerable period after the initial deportation.
Archaeological and historical evidence identifies Gozan with Tell Halaf (ancient Guzana) in northern Syria, situated on the Habor (Khabur) River, a significant tributary of the Euphrates. This identification aligns perfectly with the biblical descriptions of the "river of Gozan."
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Assyria (`{{H0804}}` אשור):** Gozan's biblical significance is entirely bound to the Assyrian Empire, serving as a destination for its deported captives. The actions of the Assyrian kings (Pul/Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser V, Sargon II, Sennacherib) are central to Gozan's context.
* **Exile/Deportation (גָּלָה, `{{H1540}}`):** The primary concept associated with Gozan is the forced relocation of the Israelites. It represents one of the specific geographical locations of their captivity, alongside Halah (`{{H2477}}`), Habor (`{{H2249}}`), and the cities of the Medes (`{{H4074}}`).
* **Covenant Curses:** The exile to places like Gozan serves as a stark fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in the Torah (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 28:36]], [[Deuteronomy 28:64]]) for Israel's persistent disobedience and idolatry.
* **Geographical Locations:** Gozan is consistently grouped with other Mesopotamian locations to which Israelites were exiled, forming a cluster of sites that represent the lands of their captivity.
### Theological Significance
The mention of Gozan in the biblical narrative carries profound theological weight:
* **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty:** The deportation of Israel to Gozan and other Assyrian territories is presented as a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness and idolatry. It powerfully illustrates God's judgment upon His disobedient people, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over nations and their rulers. Even the Assyrian Empire, acting out of its own imperial ambitions, unknowingly served as an instrument in God's hand (cf. [[Isaiah 10:5]]).
* **Fulfillment of Prophecy:** The scattering of Israel to distant lands, including Gozan, was a recurring theme in prophetic warnings from the time of Moses onward. Its historical occurrence confirms the reliability and truthfulness of God's word, both in its warnings and in the execution of judgment.
* **A Place of Enduring Presence and Hope:** The phrase "unto this day" in [[1 Chronicles 5:26]] is significant. It suggests that Israelite descendants continued to reside in Gozan and the surrounding regions for an extended period, indicating an enduring, albeit scattered, presence of God's people even in exile. This enduring presence, though seemingly a sign of punishment, also subtly points towards the broader narrative of God's faithfulness to His covenant and the eventual hope of restoration and re-gathering of His dispersed people.
* **Theological Geography:** Gozan, as a specific location of exile, serves as a tangible reminder of the broken covenant and the scattering of God's people. It symbolizes the geographical and spiritual distance from the Promised Land and the Temple, underscoring the severity of their sin and the consequences of rejecting God's covenant.
### Summary
גּוֹזָן (Gôwzân), `{{H1470}}`, is a proper noun identifying a province within the Assyrian Empire, located on the Habor River in northern Mesopotamia. While its etymology may suggest "a quarry," its biblical usage is exclusively geographical. It appears in 2 Kings and 1 Chronicles as a key destination for the exiled Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Transjordanian tribes following the Assyrian conquests. Theologically, Gozan represents a tangible location of divine judgment upon Israel for their idolatry and disobedience, fulfilling ancient covenant curses. It underscores God's sovereignty over history and nations, using Assyria as an instrument of His will. Despite being a place of exile, its mention "unto this day" in 1 Chronicles suggests an enduring Israelite presence, subtly pointing towards the broader narrative of God's faithfulness to His scattered people and the eventual hope of restoration.
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