Jezreel

In Bible versions:

Jezreel: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV
Jezreelite: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV
Jezreelitess: AVS NASB TEV

a town in the hill country of Judah
a town of Issachar
a valley in the territory of Issachar
son of Etam
a man and the place of tragic deaths
son of Hosea
a resident of the town or region of Jezreel
a woman resident of the town or region of Jezreel

Google Maps: Jezreel (2) (32° 33´, 35° 19´); Jezreel (3) (32° 33´, 35° 19´); Jezreel (31° 32´, 35° 5´);
OpenBible: (Flickr/Panoramio) Jezreel (2);  Jezreel (3);  Jezreel; 

Hebrew

Strongs #03157: laerzy Yizr@`e'l

Jezreel = "God sows"

n pr m
1) a descendant of the father or founder of Etam of Judah
2) first son of Hosea the prophet

n pr loc
3) a city in the Nekeb of Judah
4) a city in Issachar on the northwest spur of Mount Gilboa

3157 Yizr`e'l yiz-reh-ale'

from 2232 and 410; God will sow; Jizreel, the name of two places in Palestine and of two Israelites: KJV -- Jezreel.
see HEBREW for 02232
see HEBREW for 0410

Strongs #03158: ylaerzy Yizr@`e'liy

Jezreelite = see Jezreel "sown of God"

1) an inhabitant of Jezreel

3158 Yizr`e'liy yiz-reh-ay-lee'

patronymically from 3157; a Jizreelite or native of Jizreel: KJV -- Jezreelite.
see HEBREW for 03157

Strongs #03159: tylaerzy Yizr@`e'liyth

Jezreelitess = see Jezreel "sown of God"

1) a female inhabitant of Jezreel
1a) used only of Ahinoam, a wife of David

3159 Yizr`e'liyth yiz-reh-ay-leeth'

feminine of 3158; a Jezreelitess: KJV -- Jezreelitess.
see HEBREW for 03158

Jezreel [nave]

JEZREEL
1. A city in the S. of Judah, Josh. 15:56; 1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3; 29:1, 11.
2. A city of Issachar, Josh. 19:18; 2 Sam. 2:9.
Ahab's residence in, 1 Kin. 18:45, 46; 21:1.
Naboth's vineyard in, 1 Kin. 21:1.
Joram's residence in, 2 Kin. 8:29.
Jehu kills King Ahab, his wife, and friends at, 2 Kin. 9:15-37; 10:11.
Prophecies concerning, Hos. 1:4, 5, 11.
3. A valley, Josh. 17:16.
Place of Gideon's battle with the Midianites, Judg. 6:33.
Place of the defeat of the Israelites under Saul and Jonathan, 1 Sam. 29:1, 11; 31:1-6; 2 Sam. 4:4.
4. A descendant of Etam, 1 Chr. 4:3.
5. Figurative of Israel, Hos. 1:4, 5, 11.

Jezreel [ebd]

God scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Josh. 19:18), where the kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful commission against the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:14-37; 10:1-11). It has been identified with the modern Zerin, on the most western point of the range of Gilboa, reaching down into the great and fertile valley of Jezreel, to which it gave its name.

(2.) A town in Judah (Josh. 15:56), to the south-east of Hebron. Ahinoam, one of David's wives, probably belonged to this place (1 Sam. 27:3).

(3.) A symbolical name given by Hosea to his oldest son (Hos. 1:4), in token of a great slaughter predicted by him, like that which had formerly taken place in the plain of Esdraelon (comp. Hos. 1:4, 5).

JEZREEL [smith]

(seed of God), a descendant of the father or founder of Etam, of the line of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:3) (B.C. about 1445).

JEZREELITESS [smith]

a woman of Jezreel. (1 Samuel 27:3; 30:5; 2 Samuel 2:2; 3:2; 1 Chronicles 3:1)

JEZREEL [isbe]

JEZREEL - jez'-re-el, jez'-rel (yizre`e'l, "God soweth"):

(1) A city on the border of the territory of Issachar (Josh 19:18).

1. Territory:

It is named with Chesulloth and Shunem (modern Iksal and Solam). It remained loyal to the house of Saul, and is mentioned as part of the kingdom over which Abner set Ishbosheth (2 Sam 2:9). From Jezreel came the tidings of Saul and Jonathan's death on Gilboa, which brought disaster to Mephibosheth (2 Sam 4:4). The city plays no important part in the history till the time of Ahab. Attracted, doubtless, by the fine position and natural charms of the place, he made it one of his royal residences, building here a palace (1 Ki 21:1). This was evidently on the eastern wall; and the gate by which Jehu entered was over-looked by the quarters of Queen Jezebel (2 Ki 9:30 f). The royal favor naturally enhanced the dignity of the city, and "elders" and "nobles" of Jezreel are mentioned (1 Ki 21:8, etc.). Under the influence of Jezebel, an institution for the worship of Baal was founded here, from which, probably, the men were drawn who figured in the memorable contest with Elijah on Carmel (2 Ki 10:11). "The tower in Jezreel" was part of the defenses of the city. It commanded a view of the approach up the valley from Beth-shean--the way followed by the hordes of the East, who, from time immemorial, came westward for the rich pasture of the plain (2 Ki 9:17). It was necessary also to keep constant watch, as the district East of the Jordan was always more unsettled than that on the West; and danger thence might appear at any moment. The garden of Naboth seems to have lain to the East of the city (2 Ki 9:21 ), near the royal domain, to which Ahab desired to add it as a garden of herbs (1 Ki 21:1 ff). See NABOTH. This was the scene of the tragic meetings between Elijah and Ahab (1 Ki 21:17 ff), and between Jehu and Joram and Ahaziah (2 Ki 9:21). Joram had returned to Jezreel from Ramoth-gilead to be healed of his wounds (2 Ki 9:15). By the gateway the dogs devoured Jezebel's body (2 Ki 9:31 ff). Naboth had been stoned to death outside the city (1 Ki 21:13). Josephus lays the scene by the fountain of Jezreel, and here, he says, the dogs licked the blood washed from the chariot of Ahab (Ant., VIII, xv, 6). This accords with 1 Ki 21:19; but 22:38 points to the pool at Samaria.

2. Identification:

The site of Jezreel must be sought in a position where a tower would command a view of the road coming up the valley from Beth-shean. It has long been the custom to identify it with the modern village, Zer`in, on the northwestern spur of Gilboa. This meets the above condition; and it also agrees with the indications in Eusebius, Onomasticon as lying between Legio (Lejjun) and Scythopolis (Beisan). Recently, however, Professor A.R.S. Macalister made a series of excavations here, and failed to find any evidence of ancient Israelite occupation. This casts doubt upon the identification, and further excavation is necessary before any certain conclusion can be reached. For the "fountain which is in Jezreel," see HAROD, WELL OF.

(2) An unidentified town in the uplands of Judah (Josh 15:56), the home of Ahinoam (1 Sam 27:3, etc.).

W. Ewing

JEZREELITE [isbe]

JEZREELITE - jez'-re-el-it, jez'-rel-it ha-yizre`e'li): applied to Naboth, a native of Jezreel (1) (1 Ki 21:1, etc.).

JEZREELITESS [isbe]

JEZREELITESS - jez'-re-el-it-es, jez'-rel-it-es (yizre`e'lith, "of Jezreel," feminine): Applied to Ahinoam, one of David's first two wives, a native of Jezreel in Judah (1 Sam 27:3; 30:5; 2 Sam 2:2; 3:2; 1 Ch 3:1).

JEZREEL [bridgeway]

Among the important centres of northern Israel was the town of Jezreel in the tribal territory of Issachar (Josh 19:17-18). (This town is to be distinguished from the lesser known Jezreel in the tribal territory of Judah to the south; cf. Josh 15:56; 1 Sam 25:43.) Jezreel of the north was situated on the edge of the Plain of Esdraelon, where the plain began to slope down into the Valley of Jezreel. This region was often a battleground in Old Testament times, and Jezreel sometimes became involved in the fighting (e.g. 1 Sam 29:11; see PALESTINE).

When, during the time of the divided kingdom, the king of Israel established his capital in Samaria, he also built a summer palace at Jezreel. Ahab later expanded this palace by unjustly seizing the adjoining property belonging to Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-2,16). Ahab’s wife Jezebel, their son Joram and others of the royal household were killed at Jezreel in Jehu’s bloody revolution (2 Kings 8:29; 9:16-37; 10:11; Hosea 1:4-5).