Halah
Halah is mentioned in the Bible as one of the locations to which the Israelites were exiled by the Assyrian Empire. In 2 Kings 17:6 , it is recorded: "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes." Halah is believed to have been situated in the region of northern Mesopotamia, possibly near the modern-day city of Nineveh. The exact location remains uncertain, but it is generally associated with the Assyrian heartland, reflecting the Assyrian policy of relocating conquered peoples to prevent rebellion and assimilate them into the empire.

Habor
The Habor is a river mentioned in the context of the Israelite exile. It is identified in 2 Kings 17:6 and 1 Chronicles 5:26 : "So the God of Israel stirred the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day." The Habor River is generally identified with the modern Khabur River, a tributary of the Euphrates, which flows through present-day Syria and Turkey. This river was a significant geographical feature in the Assyrian Empire, and its fertile banks were suitable for agriculture, making it a strategic location for resettling exiled populations.

Hara
Hara is mentioned alongside Halah and Habor in 1 Chronicles 5:26. The precise location of Hara is less clear than that of Halah and Habor. Some scholars suggest it may refer to a mountainous region or a district within the Assyrian Empire. The mention of Hara in the context of the exile indicates its role as another site where the Israelites were resettled. The lack of additional biblical or archaeological evidence makes it difficult to pinpoint its exact location or significance beyond its mention in the exile narrative.

The River of Gozan
The river of Gozan is another geographical reference associated with the Assyrian exile of the Israelites. In 2 Kings 17:6 and 1 Chronicles 5:26, it is mentioned as a location where the exiled Israelites were settled. Gozan is often identified with the region around the Khabur River, which aligns with the historical and geographical context of the Assyrian Empire. The river of Gozan served as a boundary and a central feature in the resettlement areas designated by the Assyrians. The strategic placement of exiled populations along such rivers facilitated control and integration into the Assyrian administrative and economic systems.

These locations—Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan—highlight the Assyrian practice of deporting and resettling conquered peoples as a means of maintaining control over their vast empire. The biblical references to these places underscore the historical reality of the Israelite exile and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings about the consequences of disobedience to God.