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Gozan

Locations
Modern Location Near modern-day Kirkuk, Iraq
Coordinates 35.4667, 44.3833

Geographical Setting

An ancient Assyrian city located in the upper Tigris valley, identified with the site of Guzana or modern Kirkuk.

What is the meaning of Gozan in the Bible?

A city in the Assyrian province of Guzana where populations from the northern Kingdom of Israel were deported following the fall of Samaria, as recorded in 2 Kings 17:6, 2 Kings 18:11, and 1 Chronicles 5:26. The site is also referenced in the correspondence of King Sennacherib.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the location of Gozan clarifies the geographical scope of the Assyrian deportation policy, illustrating how the displacement of the Israelite tribes contributed to the demographic and cultural changes described in the biblical narrative.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Geopolitical & Terrain Context: Gozan (located near modern Near modern-day Kirkuk, Iraq) held strategic importance. Understanding its position and trade routes explains why key biblical events unfolded here.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Gozan in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Gozan clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned: 2 Kings 17:62 Kings 18:111 Chronicles 5:26

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Gozan." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/gozan/
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