perhaps from הַר; mountainousness; Hara, a region of Media; Hara.
Transliteration:Hârâʼ
Pronunciation:haw-raw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term הָרָא (Hârâʼ, `{{H2024}}`) is a proper noun, identifying a specific geographical location. Its etymology is suggested to derive from הַר (har, `{{H2022}}`), meaning "mountain" or "hill." Thus, the name itself likely conveys the sense of "mountainousness" or a "mountainous region." This connection implies a landscape characterized by elevated terrain. As a place name, its semantic range is primarily topographical, denoting a specific area within the broader region of Media.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term Hârâʼ (`{{H2024}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the book of Chronicles:
* [[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."
In this sole occurrence, Hârâʼ is listed as one of the destinations to which the Transjordanian tribes of Israel (Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) were exiled by the Assyrian kings Pul (Tiglath-Pileser III). It is mentioned alongside other known locations of Assyrian deportation: Halah (`{{H2477}}`), Habor (`{{H2250}}`), and the river Gozan (`{{H1470}}`). This verse serves as a historical record of the forced relocation of a significant portion of the northern kingdom of Israel, marking a pivotal moment in their covenant history. The inclusion of Hârâʼ underscores the widespread nature of the Assyrian policy of depopulation and resettlement, aimed at dissolving national identity and preventing rebellion.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relation to Hârâʼ (`{{H2024}}`) is הַר (har, `{{H2022}}`), meaning "mountain." This root word is pervasive throughout the Hebrew Bible, referring to significant geographical features like Mount Sinai (Horeb), Mount Zion, and various other mountains that served as settings for divine revelation, worship, or conflict. The concept of "mountainousness" inherent in Hârâʼ contrasts with the fertile plains of Israel, suggesting a foreign and perhaps less hospitable environment for the exiles.
Contextually, Hârâʼ is deeply connected to the concept of *exile* (גָּלָה, galâ, `{{H1540}}`) and *dispersion*. It is one of several specific locations that collectively represent the judgment brought upon Israel for their disobedience. Other related geographical terms in this verse, such as Halah, Habor, and Gozan, reinforce the reality of the Assyrian deportations. The broader historical and political context involves the Assyrian Empire and later the Median Empire, within which Hârâʼ was situated.
### Theological Significance
While Hârâʼ (`{{H2024}}`) itself is merely a geographical place name, its theological significance is profound due to its context as a place of exile.
1. **Divine Judgment and Covenant Consequences:** The deportation to places like Hârâʼ is presented as a direct consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh. The Chronicler explicitly states that "the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria," indicating divine sovereignty over historical events and the use of foreign powers as instruments of judgment ([[1 Chronicles 5:26]]). This aligns with the warnings of Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 regarding the curses of exile for disobedience.
2. **God's Sovereignty in History:** The mention of God "stirring up" the Assyrian kings highlights the biblical conviction that even the actions of powerful earthly rulers are ultimately under the control of the sovereign God. The exile to Hârâʼ and other locations was not merely a political misfortune but a divinely orchestrated event.
3. **The Hardship of Dispersion:** For the exiled tribes, Hârâʼ represented a place of forced removal from their ancestral lands, their culture, and their sacred spaces. It symbolized the loss of identity, the breaking of community, and the profound sorrow of living in a foreign land, far from the temple and the promises of God.
4. **A Precedent for Future Exiles:** The exile of the northern tribes to locations like Hârâʼ served as a stark reminder and a prophetic warning for the southern kingdom of Judah, which would later face its own exile to Babylon. It underscores a recurring pattern in Israel's history: disobedience leading to dispersion, followed by a hope for future restoration.
### Summary
Hârâʼ (`{{H2024}}`) is a singular occurrence in the biblical text, a proper noun likely denoting a "mountainous region" in Media. Its significance is entirely derived from its role as one of the specific locations to which the Transjordanian tribes of Israel were exiled by the Assyrian Empire, as recorded in [[1 Chronicles 5:26]]. Theologically, Hârâʼ stands as a silent testament to the severe consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, illustrating God's sovereign hand in history, even in the judgment and dispersion of His people. It represents a place of profound loss and hardship for the exiled Israelites, serving as a historical marker of divine discipline and the unfolding narrative of Israel's relationship with their God.
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