Haran
City · Haran → Harran, Türkiye
Abraham’s family settled here on the way from Ur. Jacob later fled here and served for his wives.
People
- Terah
- Abraham
- Nahor
- Jacob
- Laban
- Rachel
- Leah
At a glance
- Realm
- Aram-Naharaim (Upper Mesopotamia)
- Role
- Caravan city, home of Abraham’s kin
- Peoples
- Arameans
- First mention
- Genesis 11 (Terah settles)
The story
Haran lay on the great caravan road of upper Mesopotamia, a crossing of trade and travel between the rivers and the western lands. Terah brought Abram, Sarai, and Lot here from Ur and settled, and here Terah died, while Nahor’s family stayed on so that it became known as the city of Nahor.
From Haran Abram was called to go out to a land the LORD would show him. Here his servant returned to seek Rebekah as a bride for Isaac, and to Haran Jacob fled from Esau and served Laban twice seven years for Rachel and Leah, building the family of Israel before he turned back toward Canaan.
Through the eras
- The Patriarchs · standing. Terah settled here; Jacob served Laban here for his wives.
- The Exile · standing. Assyria’s last kings made their stand here after Nineveh fell, until 610 BC.