Skip to main content

Jabin

Portrait of Jabin

Jabin was the king of Canaan reigning in Hazor who oppressed Israel for twenty years with nine hundred chariots of iron. His army, commanded by Sisera, was routed when the prophetess Deborah and Barak led Israel to victory at the River Kishon. The defeat of Jabin's forces marked the deliverance celebrated in the Song of Deborah.

0:00

Biography

Occupation
King of Canaan (Hazor)
Era
Judges
Nationality
Canaanite
Old Testament Judges Villain King

Did You Know?

1

Jabin of Hazor fielded 'nine hundred chariots of iron' (Judges 4:3), the Bronze-to-Iron-Age military technology that made his twenty-year oppression of Israel so crushing - and his defeat by foot soldiers so miraculous.

2

His army was undone at the River Kishon when a sudden torrent (celebrated in the Song of Deborah) bogged down those very chariots in the mud, turning his greatest strength into his ruin.

3

Hazor, Jabin's capital, was the largest city in Canaan and has been extensively excavated, showing a destruction layer that vividly corroborates the biblical picture of its fall.

Key Chapters

Key Passages

Jabin Oppresses Israel

Judges 4:1-3

Jabin of Hazor cruelly oppresses Israel, prompting their cry for deliverance.

A1nd the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.

2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

Read full chapter: Judges 4 โ†’

Jabin Subdued

Judges 4:23-24

God subdues Jabin before Israel until his power is destroyed.

S23o God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Read full chapter: Judges 4 โ†’