Josh 11:1; Jdg 4:2, 17, 24
Jabín (Heb. Yâbîn, “he understands” or “understander”). 1. Canaanite king of the city of Hazor at the time of Joshua. He was at the head of the confederation of city-states in northern Canaan defeated by the Israelites. After the battle, Jabin was killed and Hazor was burned (Josh 11:1-14). 2. King of Hazor who oppressed Israel during the period of the judges for 20 years. He was probably a descendant of Jabin 1. His army, led by Sisera, was defeated by Barak and Deborah of Israel. He continued his opposition for a time, but was later destroyed (Jdg 4:2-24).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
(Heb., yavin, able to discern).
1. A king of Hazor, the chief city in northern Palestine (Jos 11:1). Joshua and his forces met Jabin and the allied forces Jabin had assembled in battle, and he defeated them (Jos 11:1-10). Hazor was captured and Jabin was killed (Jos 11:10).
2. Another king of Hazor who enslaved Israel.
He was defeated by Barak (Judges 4; compare 1Sa 12:9; Psa 83:9).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(The one who perceives or discerns). Name of people from the OT.
1. Name used to designate the Canaanite king of †¢Hazor. Learning of Joshua’s deeds, he formed an alliance to oppose him. In a battle “by the waters of Merom” the Israelites defeated these allies (Jos 11:1-8).
. King of †¢Hazor in the days of †¢Deborah, who oppressed “the children of Israel for twenty years” (Jdg 4:2-3, Jdg 4:17). Deborah and †¢Barak defeated this J., whose captain was †¢Sisera. Some explain the mention of this other J. pointing to the possibility of a reconstruction of Hazor after the fire of Joshua and that the name was, in fact, the title of the kings of Hazor.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG REYE HOMB HOAT
see, JAEL
vet, = “He (God) perceives”. (a) Canaanite king of Hazor of Galilee and dependent cities. Jabin was the head of the league of kings from the north and center, which Joshua defeated at the waters of Merom. After the battle, the Israelites took Hazor, set it on fire, and killed its king (Josh. 11:1-14). (b) Another Canaanite king, who also reigned over Hazor; he was probably descended from the former (Judges 4:2). He also headed a coalition of kings (Judges 5:19), and he oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Finally, Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera at the Kishon River. Sisera was killed by Jael, a woman (see JAEL). The war continued until the destruction of Jabin (Judges 4:17-24).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(possibly: Discerning; Understanding; or, Edifier).
Perhaps a dynastic name or title of the Canaanite kings of Hazor.
1. King of Hazor when Joshua invaded the Promised Land. Jabin formed a confederation with the Canaanite kings of the N., who mustered against Israel a military force “as great as grains of sand, very many horses and chariots of war.” While they were encamped by the waters of the Merom, Joshua led a surprise attack and pursued him until he was completely defeated. Jabin was later executed when he captured and burned the city of Hazor. (Jos 11:1-14; 12:7, 19)
2. Later Canaanite king who ruled over the restored city of Hazor; he was possibly a descendant of the Jabin mentioned in section no. 1. His being called “king of Canaan” could denote his supremacy over the other Canaanite kings and indicate that he enjoyed great power and authority, apparently having at least some allies. On the other hand, perhaps that expression alone distinguished him from the kings of other lands. Jabin’s army, numbering 900 chariots with iron sickles, was under the command of Sisera, who is given greater importance in the biblical account than Jabin himself. (Jg 4:2, 3; 5:19, 20)
With Jehovah’s permission, Jabin severely oppressed apostate Israel for twenty years, but when the Israelites turned to God for deliverance, Jehovah raised up Barak and Deborah to lead Israel to victory over Israel’s army. Jabin. Eber’s wife, the Kenite, who had been at peace with Jabin, killed Sisera. (Jg 4:3-22) The Israelites continued to war against Jabin, eventually putting him to death. (Jg 4:23, 24; Ps 83:9, 10)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
(heb. yāḇı̂n, possibly ‘perceives’). 1. King of *Hazor, head of an alliance of princes from the N, who were defeated by Joshua, who later killed Jabin (Jo. 11.1–14).
2. Another king of Hazor (called “king of Canaan” in Judges 4.2 who for 20 years had “cruelly oppressed” the Israelites, who had been reduced to vassalage because of their idolatry. Liberation came when Barak and Deborah they defeated Jabin’s general *Sisera (Judges 4:3–16), a remarkable victory immortalized in Deborah’s song (Judges 5) and leading to the destruction of Jabin (Judges 4:23–24), also mentioned briefly in Ps. 83.9.
JDD
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary