HAZOR

Hazor (means "an enclosure") is located north of the Sea of Galilee and near Lake Huleh (which is no longer a lake) and was the dominating city in this area controlling the main north-south route up to Damascus. It was near the only ford crossing the Jordan. It has not been fully excavated as is true of most sites in the Holy Land. New discoveries continue to make this area continually interesting. It is near Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel and has been inhabited for 4500 years. In Joshua’s day it was an important military city. (Joshua 11:10) Battles were fought in this area during the time of Judges in the Bible. Solomon built it up as a strong military outpost. Jesus passed it on His way to Caesarea Philippi. Hazor had been a Canaanite stronghold when the children of Israel came to the Promised Land. Joshua captured and burned the city in the 13th century B.C. The city was fortified to withstand invaders from the north during the time of ancient Israel.