Jabin

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 

1. King of Hazor in northern Palestine, near the Merom waters. Headed the confederacy of northern kings (Jobab of Madon, the kings of Shimron, Achshaph, etc., N. of the mountains of Naphtali and in the Arabah S. of Chinneroth, i.e. the Ghor, S. of the sea of Galilee, etc.) against Israel: Jos 11:1-4. Their army was "even as the sand upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many." Lest Joshua should be affrighted at this formidable array, Jehovah in vision promised "I will deliver them up all slain before Israel"; I am infinitely more than a match for them, and I am on thy side.

The "I" is emphatic in the Hebrew. Joshua suddenly fell upon them and "chased them unto great Zidon (then the metropolis of Phoenicia, but later in David's time outstripped by Tyre), and Misrephoth Maim and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward, until they left them none remaining." Then he "houghed" (lamed by cutting the hoof sinew) their horses, and burnt their chariots. The cities he did not burn except Hazor, which he burnt and slew its king, probably on account of some renewed hostility (Jos 11:1-13).

2. The king of Hazor whose general, Sisera, was defeated by Deborah and Barak. "For 20 years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel," until their "cry unto the Lord" brought a deliverer (Judges 4-5).

 

Taken from: Fausset's Bible Dictionary by Andrew Robert Fausset (1821-1910)