Lexical Summary Chatsatson Tamar: Hazazon Tamar Original Word: חַצְצוֹן תָּמָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hazezon- tamar Or Chatsatson Tamar {khats-ats-one' taw-mawr'}; from chatsats and tamar; division (i.e. Perhaps row) of (the) palm-tree; Chatsetson-tamar, a place in Palestine -- Hazezon- tamar. see HEBREW chatsats see HEBREW tamar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chatsats and tamar Definition a place on the W. side of the Dead Sea, the same as NH5872 NASB Translation Hazazon-tamar (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs חַצֲצֹן תָּמָר proper name, of a location (׳ח of the palm); — abode of Amorites Genesis 14:7, ᵐ5 Ασασαν Θαμαρ; חַצֲצוֺן תָּמָר הִיא עֵין גֶּדִ֑י2Chronicles 20:2 base of operations for אֲרַם (read אֱדוֺם) ag. Judah (see JosAnt. ix, 1. 2); it was on western side of Dead Sea (see עֵין גֶּ֫דִי); see RobBR i, 500-509 BdPal 143 GASmGeogr. 269 ff.; Wady „uƒ¹ƒ¹ (= חצצן ?) lies northwest from Engedi GASml.c. compare RobBR i, 506 BdPal 14 (map); GASm suggests also possibility of finding here תָּמָר 1 Kings 9:18 Kt (= תַּדְמֹר Qr and 2 Chronicles 8:4), Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28 (see תָּמָר proper name, of a location) Topical Lexicon Geographical Context Hazazon-tamar is an oasis settlement on the western shore of the Dead Sea, later known as En Gedi. Sheltered cliffs, perennial springs, and fertile terraces made it one of the most defensible and productive sites in the wilderness of Judah. Palm groves, balsam trees, and vines flourished there, furnishing both sustenance and commercial goods for Israel and surrounding nations. Old Testament Occurrences • Genesis 14:7 records that the coalition of Mesopotamian kings “conquered … the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.” Historical Significance 1. Patriarchal Era: In the days of Abram, Hazazon-tamar lay on the southern fringe of the Amorite sphere, controlling access between the Negev and the Jordan Valley. Its capture by Chedorlaomer’s confederacy highlights the sweeping nature of their campaign and sets the stage for Abram’s rescue of Lot. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty over Nations: In both occurrences the Lord steers international armies to a place whose very name became a testimony to His deliverance: Abram’s victory in Genesis 14 and the supernatural rout in 2 Chronicles 20. Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Application 1. Strategic Prayer: Jehoshaphat “set his face to seek the LORD” (2 Chronicles 20:3). Believers under sudden threat can model congregational fasting, worship, and reliance on God’s word. Archaeological and Modern Identification The modern kibbutz of En Gedi sits amid ruins from Iron Age fortifications, Second Temple agriculture terraces, and Byzantine monasteries. Freshwater springs, steep wadis, and cliffs match biblical descriptions, reinforcing the identification with Hazazon-tamar. Interbiblical Echoes Song of Songs 1:14 likens the beloved to “a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi,” confirming the site’s enduring reputation for beauty and fragrance. Ezekiel 47:10 foresees fishermen at En Gedi in a restored land, suggesting its continued vitality in the prophetic future. Summary Hazazon-tamar stands as a vivid reminder that God controls both oasis and battlefield, turning places of potential defeat into testimonies of covenant fidelity, strategic prayer, and triumphant praise. Forms and Transliterations תָּמָ֔ר תָּמָֽר׃ תמר תמר׃ tā·mār taMar tāmārLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:7 HEB: הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב בְּחַֽצְצֹ֥ן תָּמָֽר׃ NAS: who lived in Hazazon-tamar. KJV: that dwelt in Hazezontamar. INT: the Amorites lived Hazazon-tamar 2 Chronicles 20:2 2 Occurrences |
    |