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JEZREEL

(Heb. yizrĕʿeʾl)

(PLACE)

1. A town in the hills of Judah, in the vicinity of Ziph and Juttah (Josh. 15:56). Its identification is unknown, but some suggest Khirbet Tarrâmā (153098), 9 km. (6 mi.) SW of Hebron. This Jezreel was the hometown of one of David’s wives, Ahinoam (1 Sam. 25:43; 2 Sam. 2:2).

2. The valley of Jezreel, the eastern section of the broad valley separating Galilee from Samaria. From the pass between the hill of Moreh and Mt. Gilboa, where the town of Jezreel was located, the valley descends eastward to the Jordan, with Beth-shan commanding its eastern entrance. The broader plain to the west is known as Esdraelon — though sometimes Jezreel and Esdraelon are used interchangeably.

The valley of Jezreel comprised a rich and fertile growing area as well as one of the few routes to the Jordan Valley and the east. The famous Carmel Pass was used by traders and armies alike from Egypt, the east, and the Palestinian coast.

The Canaanites controlled the valley with chariots of iron when the Israelites entered the land (Josh. 17:16), and here Gideon met the Midianites and Amalekites in battle (Judg. 6:33–7:23). According to Hosea (Hos. 1:5) this valley was where the battle would take place that would bring an end to the kingdom of Israel.

3. A town on the southern border of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), often identified with modern Zerʿîn/Tel Yisreʿel (181218), ca. 80 km. (50 mi.) N of Jerusalem near the foot of Mt. Gilboa. Jezreel was associated with a fountain (Josh. 29:1); a fountain, ʿAin Jalud, is located near Zerʿîn.

Jezreel figured prominently in Israel’s history. The Israelites encamped there before their battle with the Philistines (1 Sam. 29). Ishbosheth, son of Saul, briefly reigned over Jezreel (2 Sam. 2:9), here possibly designating more than simply the city. Jezreel was a city of Solomon’s fifth administrative district (1 Kgs. 4:12). Ahab had a royal residence there (1 Kgs. 18:45-46). The city was the site of Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kgs. 21; 2 Kgs. 9:24-26), and there Jezebel and the rest of Ahab’s household died as prophesied (2 Kgs. 9:30–10:11).

Watson E. Mills

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JEZREEL

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)