4:2 Jabin. Jabin was evidently a title of the kings of Hazor. An earlier Jabin had been defeated and slain by Joshua (Joshua 11:1,10) more than a century before. Archaeological evidence has been unearthed in Hazor apparently confirming both the earlier destruction under Joshua and the later defeat under Barak.

4:2 Jabin king of Canaan. The new “Jabin” of Hazor had apparently rebuilt this capital city of northern Canaan after Joshua’s earlier victory there (Joshua 11:1, 10) and had gained control of much of northern Canaan. The name “Jabin” has actually been found in an inscription from Mari, near the Euphrates River.

4:2 Hazor. Hazor had been rebuilt and reoccupied after its destruction by Joshua about a hundred years earlier (Joshua 11:10, 11). In fact, Hazor has been confirmed archaeologically to have been an important city in Canaanite times.