An Aramean city-state in northwestern Mesopotamia, on the southern bank of the River Khabur. Assyrian documents of the early 9th century B.C. state that it was subject to Assyria. In 732 B.C. Tiglath-Pileser III deported the Reubenites, Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh to Halah, Habor, Hara and to the River Gozan (I Chr 5:26). The same fate was also suffered by the inhabitants of Samaria after its conquest in 721 B.C. (II Kgs 17:6). Isaiah knew of the fate that befell Gozan at the hands of the Assyrians (Is 37:11-12).
Gozan is identified with Tell Halaf, where the remains of the Aramean city built in the 10th century B.C. occupied an area of about 150 acres (61 ha), its temples, a palace and other buildings provided very rich finds uncovered in excavations. On the ruins of this city another was built to which the Israelites were deported by the Assyrians. Documents found in the later city that refer to this period contain Hebrew names, probably of the deportees.
Concordance
II Kgs 17:6; 18:11; 19:12. I Chr 5:26. Is 37:12
