Topical Bible: Valleys: Jezreel

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Valley of Jezreel, also known as the Plain of Esdraelon, is a significant geographical and historical region in the biblical narrative. It is located in the northern part of Israel, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan Valley. This fertile valley has been a crucial site for agriculture, trade, and military campaigns throughout biblical history.

Biblical Significance

The Valley of Jezreel is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, serving as a backdrop for several pivotal events. It is first introduced in the context of the tribal allotments in the Book of Joshua. The valley was part of the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, as described in Joshua 19:18: "Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem" .

One of the most notable events associated with the Valley of Jezreel is the battle between the Israelites, led by Deborah and Barak, and the Canaanite forces under Sisera. Judges 4:13-16 recounts how the Lord delivered Sisera's army into the hands of the Israelites at the Kishon River, which runs through the valley. This victory is celebrated in the Song of Deborah in Judges 5.

The valley is also the setting for the tragic account of King Saul's defeat and death at the hands of the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 29-31, the Philistines gather their forces at Aphek and move to the Valley of Jezreel, where they ultimately defeat the Israelites. Saul and his sons fall on Mount Gilboa, which borders the valley.

Prophetic and Eschatological Context

The Valley of Jezreel holds prophetic significance as well. The prophet Hosea uses the valley as a symbol of both judgment and restoration. In Hosea 1:4-5, the Lord commands Hosea to name his son Jezreel, for He will "soon punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel" . Yet, in Hosea 1:10-11, the valley becomes a place of hope, where God promises to reunite the children of Judah and Israel.

In eschatological terms, the Valley of Jezreel is often associated with the final battle of Armageddon, as described in Revelation 16:16. While the term "Armageddon" is derived from "Har Megiddo," a location within the Jezreel Valley, the valley itself is seen as a symbol of the ultimate confrontation between good and evil.

Cultural and Historical Context

Throughout history, the Valley of Jezreel has been a strategic military site due to its location and topography. It served as a corridor for armies moving between Africa and Asia, making it a frequent battleground. The valley's fertile land also made it an agricultural hub, contributing to the prosperity of the region.

In the time of King Ahab, the city of Jezreel became a royal residence. It was here that Naboth's vineyard incident occurred, leading to the downfall of Ahab's dynasty as prophesied by Elijah (1 Kings 21).

Conclusion

The Valley of Jezreel remains a place of profound historical and spiritual significance. Its rich biblical history and prophetic associations continue to capture the imagination of believers, serving as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan throughout history.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 1:5
And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... These valleys were especially fertile and attractive in the territory later known ...
of Esdraelon and its eastward extension, the Valley of Jezreel, cut straight ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

The Word that Scatters Fear
... Down on the rich valleys and peaceful pasture lands they swoop for booty, not for ...
of the marauders over the hills of Samaria, and across the plain of Jezreel. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the word that scatters fear.htm

The Story of Gideon and his Three Hundred Soldiers
... on the east of the plain of Esdraelon, or the plain of Jezreel, where once ... river
Jordan, and they fled in that direction, down one of the valleys between the ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of gideon and.htm

Letter cxxii. To Rusticus.
... In fact when he left the dark valleys in which Sodom lay and came to the ... even thine;"
and "the dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel." [3175] "And it ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxii to rusticus.htm

Canaan
... Jebusites at Jerusalem, the Hittites were mountaineers.[2] The hot river-valleys
and the ... The plain of Jezreel formed, as it were, the centre of the Canaanitish ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... regained their liberty: first the outlying dependencies"Cilicia, Melitene, Northern
Syria, and then the provinces nearer the capital, the valleys of the ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... was that which crossed Mount Carmel, near Megiddo, and passed up the valleys of
the ... which came from Damascus by way of Tabor and the plain of Jezreel, or those ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... begged for sanctuary, but the King of Judah, to whom the Edomite valleys belonged,
did ... for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm