Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? (2 Kings 19:12)
For a long period past, Sennacherib’s forefathers have been universally successful in war, with the gods of the nations being powerless to resist them. The places mentioned in this verse are all in the neighborhood of ancient Haran, the home of Abraham in northern Mesopotamia, which had long since fallen under Assyrian dominion.
Gozan.
This was a city on the northern Khabur, 90 mi. (144 km.) east of Haran. Exiles from Samaria were placed in Gozan (ch. 17:6). In 808 the campaign of the year was against this city (Guzana). The site of Gozan is now known as Tell Halaf.
Haran.
The ancient home of Abraham, after he left Ur (see on Gen. 11:31). It is mentioned as having come under Assyrian domination as early as the reign of Adadnirari I, 1305-1273.
Rezeph.
The Assyrian Raṣappa. Probably the modern Ruṣâfe, northeast of Palmyra. It is mentioned in the inscriptions of Adadnirari III, 810-782.
Eden.
This area is mentioned with Haran in Eze. 27:23, and the “house of Eden” is referred to in Amos 1:5. Some have identified Eden with the land lying on both sides of the Euphrates, southwest of Haran and southeast of Carchemish. It is frequently referred to in the Assyrian inscriptions under the name of Bīt-Adini.
Thelasar.
Probably Til-ashurri, or “hill of Assur,” in northern Syria, in the bend of the Euphrates, honored by the name of the Assyrian god.