Bible Dictionary
Jazer
Jazer was an Amorite city east of the Jordan taken by Moses and given to Gad. Its fertile pasturelands were later assigned to the Merarite Levites.
Definition
Jazer, or Jaazer, was an Amorite city east of the Jordan with dependent towns and fertile pasturelands. Moses captured it, and it was occupied by Gad and later assigned to the Merarite Levites.
Biblical Usage
Jazer marked the southern border of Gad’s territory. It was assigned to the Levites, reached by Joab during David’s census, and associated with men of valor who served under David.
Historical Background
The site has not been identified with certainty. Proposed locations include Khirbet Car west of Amman and Yajuz north of Amman. The city was later taken from the Ammonites by Judas Maccabeus and burned.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Jehovah helps). [Jaazer, Or Jazer]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ja'-zer (ya`zer or ya`zeyr; Septuagint Iazen in Codex Alexandrinus; Iazer): In some cases, e.g. Nu 21:32, the King James Version reads "Jaazer." This was a city of the Amorites East of the Jordan taken, along with its towns, by Moses, and occupied by the tribe of Gad (Nu 21:32; 32:35). The country was very fertile, and its spacious pasture-lands attracted the flock-masters of Gad (Nu 32:1), the southern border of whose territory it marked (Jos 13:25). It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Jos 21:39; 1Ch 6:81). The place was reached by Joab when taking the census (2Sa 24:5). In the 40th year of King David mighty men of valor were found here to whom he entrusted the oversight in Reuben and Gad "for every matter pertaining to God, and run the affairs of the king" (1Ch 26:32 f). The fruitfulness of the country is alluded to in Isa 16:8 f; Jer 48:32. (Note: "Sea of" Jazer in this verse has arisen through accidental repetition of yam, "sea," from the preceding clause.) The city was taken from the Ammonites by Judas Maccabeus, and burned (1 Macc 5:7,8; Ant, XII, viii, 1).</p><p>Onomasticon places Jazer 10 Roman miles West of Philadelphia (`Amman), and about 15 miles from Heshbon, where a great stream rises, which flows into the Jordan. Many would identify it with Khirbet Car, on the South of Wady Cir, about 5 miles West of `Amman. The perennial stream from Wady Cir reaches the Jordan by Wady el-Kefrein. Cheyne (EB, under the word) suggests Yajuz on Wady Zorby, tributary of the Jabbok, with extensive Roman remains. It lies a little way to the East of el Jubeihat ("Jogbehah," Nu 32:35). It is situated, however, to the North and not to the West of `Amman, where Eusebius, Onomasticon, places it. Neither identification is certain.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>