Biblical References:
Telassar is mentioned in the Bible in the context of the Assyrian campaigns against the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The primary reference to Telassar is found in 2 Kings 19:12 and Isaiah 37:12, where it is listed among the cities conquered by the Assyrians. The Berean Standard Bible renders these verses as follows:

2 Kings 19:12 : "Did the gods of the nations my fathers destroyed rescue them—the gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?"

Isaiah 37:12 : "Did the gods of the nations my fathers destroyed rescue them—the gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?"

Historical and Geographical Context:
Telassar is identified as a city associated with the "people of Eden," a region that was likely located in Mesopotamia. The exact location of Telassar is not definitively known, but it is generally believed to have been situated in the vicinity of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, possibly in the area of modern-day Iraq. The mention of Telassar alongside other cities such as Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph suggests it was part of a network of cities that were significant during the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

Cultural and Religious Significance:
The reference to Telassar in the biblical narrative highlights the futility of relying on the gods of these conquered cities for deliverance. The Assyrian king, Sennacherib, used the example of Telassar and other cities to intimidate Hezekiah, king of Judah, by pointing out that the gods of these nations could not save them from Assyrian conquest. This serves to underscore the biblical theme of the sovereignty and supremacy of the God of Israel over the gods of other nations.

Theological Implications:
The mention of Telassar in the context of Assyrian conquests serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly powers and the ultimate authority of God. The biblical narrative uses the example of Telassar to demonstrate that reliance on false gods and idols is futile. This aligns with the broader biblical message that true deliverance and protection come from the Lord alone, as seen in the deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat through divine intervention.

Archaeological Insights:
While Telassar itself has not been definitively identified in archaeological records, the broader region of Mesopotamia has yielded significant findings that illuminate the historical context of the Assyrian Empire. Excavations in cities like Nineveh and Nimrud provide insights into the Assyrian military campaigns and their interactions with surrounding nations, including the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Conclusion:
The biblical references to Telassar serve as a testament to the historical reality of the Assyrian conquests and the theological message of God's supremacy. The narrative encourages faith in the God of Israel, who alone has the power to save and deliver His people from their enemies.Telassar

taking away; heaping up

Or Thelasar, (Isaiah 37:12; 2 Kings 19:12), a province in the south-east of Assyria, probably in Babylonia. Some have identified it with Tel Afer, a place in Mesopotamia, some 30 miles from Sinjar. TELASSAR

te-las'-ar (tela'-ssar (2 Kings 19:12), telassar (Isaiah 37:12); Codex Alexandrinus Thalassar; Codex Vaticanus Thaesthen; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) Thelassar, Thalassar):

1. The Name and Its Meaning:

This city, which is referred to by Sennacherib's messengers to Hezekiah, is stated by them to have been inhabited by the "children of Eden." It had been captured by the Assyrian king's forefathers, from whose hands its gods had been unable to save it. Notwithstanding the vocalization, the name is generally rendered "Hill of Asshur," the chief god of the Assyrians, but "Hill of Assar," or Asari (a name of the Babylonian Merodach), would probably be better.

2. Suggestions as to the Geographical Position:

As Telassar was inhabited by the "children of Eden," and is mentioned with Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, in Western Mesopotamia, it has been suggested that it lay in Bit Adini, "the House of Adinu," or Betheden, in the same direction, between the Euphrates and the Belikh. A place named Til-Assuri, however, is twice mentioned by Tiglath-pileser IV (Ann., 176; Slab-Inscr., II, 23), and from these passages it would seem to have lain near enough to the Assyrian border to be annexed. The king states that he made there holy sacrifices to Merodach, whose seat it was. It was inhabited by Babylonians (whose home was the Edinu or "plain"; see EDEN). Esarhaddon, Sennacherib's son, who likewise conquered the place, writes the name Til-Asurri, and states that the people of Mihranu called it Pitanu. Its inhabitants, he says, were people of Barnaku. If this be Bit Burnaki in Elam, extending from the boundary of Rasu (see ROSH), which was ravaged by Sennacherib (Babylonians Chronicles, III, 10;), Til-Assuri probably lay near the western border of Elam. Should this identification be the true one, the Hebrew form telassar would seem to be more correct than the Assyrian Til-Assuri (-Asurri), which latter may have been due to the popular idea that the second element was the name of the national god Assur. See French Delitzsch, Wo lag das Paradies? 264.

T. G. Pinches

8515. Telassar -- a city in Mesopotamia
... 8514, 8515. Telassar. 8516 . a city in Mesopotamia. Transliteration: Telassar
Phonetic Spelling: (tel-as-sar') Short Definition: Telassar. ...
/hebrew/8515.htm - 6k

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan
and Haran and Rezepk, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar? ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Telassar (2 Occurrences)
... Some have identified it with Tel Afer, a place in Mesopotamia, some 30 miles
from Sinjar. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TELASSAR. ...
/t/telassar.htm - 9k

Tel-assar (2 Occurrences)
Tel-assar. Telassar, Tel-assar. Telem . Multi-Version Concordance Tel-assar
(2 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Telassar, Tel-assar. Telem . Reference Bible.
/t/tel-assar.htm - 6k

Rezeph (2 Occurrences)
... surrender of Jerusalem. The names which precede are Gozan and Haran; and
"the children of Eden that were Telassar" follows. 2. Now ...
/r/rezeph.htm - 9k

Children
... e'-d'-n (bene `edhen): In 2 Kings 19:12 Isaiah 37:12 "the children of Eden that
were in Telassar" are mentioned in connection with "Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

Eden (19 Occurrences)
... e'-d'-n (bene `edhen): In 2 Kings 19:12 Isaiah 37:12 "the children of Eden that
were in Telassar" are mentioned in connection with "Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph ...
/e/eden.htm - 28k

Gozan (5 Occurrences)
... 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed,
Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar...
/g/gozan.htm - 10k

Tel (5 Occurrences)
... 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed,
Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar...
/t/tel.htm - 8k

Assar (3 Occurrences)
... 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed,
Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar...
/a/assar.htm - 7k

Thelasar (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia THELASAR. the-la'-sar (tela'ssar, telassar).
See TELASSAR. Multi-Version Concordance Thelasar (1 Occurrence). ...
/t/thelasar.htm - 6k

Haran (19 Occurrences)
... 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed,
Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar...
/h/haran.htm - 17k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus