Tell Brak and the Haran Region
Early cities of the Khabur plain where Avraham's family settled
Found 1937 — Max Mallowan (with Agatha Christie), 1937–1938; later David and Joan Oates and Geoff Emberling (1976–2011)
Where Tell Brak (ancient Nagar), Khabur basin, northeast Syria (Syria)
Dates from c. 4000–1500 BCE · Late Chalcolithic to Middle Bronze · Terach and Avraham at Haran; Yaakov with Lavan in Paddan-aram
Now at In situ; eye idols in the British Museum, National Museum of Aleppo, and the Institute of Archaeology, London
How Tell Brak and the Haran Region was found
Mallowan uncovered the 'Eye Temple' with thousands of alabaster eye idols; later work showed Brak was one of the world's earliest cities, older than the southern Sumerian cities, and identified it as ancient Nagar.
What it is
A 40-hectare mound in the region between Haran and the Khabur River, with a 4th-millennium temple full of small 'eye idols', a palace of Naram-Sin of Akkad, and Middle Bronze occupation contemporary with the Mari archives.
Why it matters for the Bible
Genesis places Avraham's family at Haran and Yaakov's twenty years in Paddan-aram (the plain of Aram), the region of the upper Khabur and Balikh rivers. Mari-period texts from this area record towns named Nahur, Til-Turahi, and Sarugi, strikingly close to Nahor, Terach, and Serug in Avraham's genealogy. Tell Brak shows the region's deep urban history and helps map the world Avraham left when he went to Canaan. Haran itself (Turkey) has been little excavated below Islamic levels.
The Hebrew word: ah-RAHM nah-hah-RAH-yim
אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם
אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם is pronounced ah-RAHM nah-hah-RAH-yim and means Aram of the two rivers (Mesopotamia), the Khabur region (Strong's H763).
People this discovery connects to
- Nahor — נָחוֹר (nah-CHOR) — snorting
- Laban — לָבָן (lah-VAHN) — white
Places
- Paddan-aram — פַּדַּן אֲרָם (pad-DAHN ah-RAHM) — plain/field of Aram
- Haran — חָרָן (chah-RAHN) — crossroads
Events
Terach settles at Haran · Avraham's servant travels to the city of Nahor · Yaakov serves Lavan in Paddan-aram
Tell Brak and the Haran Region in Scripture
Genesis 11:31-32 Terach's family settles and Terach dies at Haran, in this region.
Genesis 24:10 Avraham's servant goes to Aram-naharaim, 'the city of Nahor', a name found in Mari-era texts as Nahur.
Questions people ask
What is Tell Brak and the Haran Region?
A 40-hectare mound in the region between Haran and the Khabur River, with a 4th-millennium temple full of small 'eye idols', a palace of Naram-Sin of Akkad, and Middle Bronze occupation contemporary with the Mari archives.
When was Tell Brak and the Haran Region discovered?
It was found in 1937 by Max Mallowan (with Agatha Christie), 1937–1938; later David and Joan Oates and Geoff Emberling (1976–2011), at Tell Brak (ancient Nagar), Khabur basin, northeast Syria.
Where is Tell Brak and the Haran Region today?
In situ; eye idols in the British Museum, National Museum of Aleppo, and the Institute of Archaeology, London.
Which Bible verses does Tell Brak and the Haran Region relate to?
Genesis 11:31-32, Genesis 24:10.
Related discoveries
Sources
- Wikipedia: Tell Brak
- Oates, Oates & McDonald, 'Excavations at Tell Brak' vols. 1–2 (1997–2001)