Interesting Facts

• Parathon was the king of Chazar.
• He joined a coalition of kings of the Canaanites and Amorites to make war with Jacob and his sons after they returned to Shechem.
• Parathon assembled with these kings opposite Tapnach with a large army.
• He fled with the other kings and their armies to the city of Chazar when the sons of Jacob approached.
• Parathon was killed by Jacob with an arrow at the gate of the city of Chazar.

Genealogy

• The provided sources offer no information regarding Parathon’s ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring. He is solely identified by his title as the king of Chazar.

Historical Context

Parathon’s narrative is situated within a period of renewed conflict between Jacob’s family and the surrounding Canaanite and Amorite kingdoms. This resurgence of hostility followed the return of Jacob’s sons to Shechem, a city they had previously attacked and whose inhabitants they had slain. The kings of the region, including Parathon of Chazar, perceived the return of Jacob’s sons as a renewed threat and a challenge to their authority. The assembling of multiple kings with their armies indicates a coordinated effort to resist the perceived aggression and expansion of Jacob’s household in the land of Canaan. This era was marked by inter-city alliances and military campaigns as various factions vied for power and territorial control.

Narrative

Parathon, as the king of Chazar, is introduced as a member of the coalition of Canaanite and Amorite kings who united to wage war against Jacob and his sons. He heeded the call to arms from Jashub, king of Tapnach, to confront the Hebrews who had previously dealt violently with Shechem. Parathon participated in the assembly of the armies opposite Tapnach, demonstrating a commitment to this collective resistance. However, upon the advance of Jacob’s sons, Parathon, along with the other kings and their forces, was seized with fear and retreated to the fortified city of Chazar for safety. Despite seeking refuge within the city walls, Parathon’s fate was sealed when Jacob and his sons pursued the fleeing armies to the gate of Chazar. It is specifically stated that Jacob, employing his bow, struck and killed Parathon himself at the very entrance of the city. Parathon’s role in the narrative, though brief, underscores the widespread opposition faced by Jacob’s family in Canaan and highlights Jacob’s active participation in the ensuing battles against these regional powers. His death at the hands of Jacob signifies a decisive moment in the conflict, further diminishing the coalition formed against the patriarch and his descendants.