Jezreel (Place) — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

1. Town originally founded by the tribe of Issachar to the south of Shunem, a site that was abandoned in the el-Amarna period by earlier settlers (Jos 19:18). The city became associated with a number of important events in the history of Israel.

Show passage in OET: JOS 19:18

OET-RV JOS 19:18

18 Their land included the cities of Yizre’el (Jezreel), Kesulot, Shunem,

OET-LV JOS 19:18

18 And_ border _of_their _he/it _was to_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_(the)_Kesulloth and_Shūnēm.

Jump to OET JOS 19:18 section.

It probably gained some of its importance from the decline of the ancient town of Beth-shan during the Iron Age. Jezreel became the center of an important district in Saul’s kingdom (2 Sm 2:9), and a nearby spring served as the rallying point for Saul’s army before they met the Philistines in the battle of Mt Gilboa (1 Sm 29:1). After Saul’s death, the town was, for a short time, part of Ishbosheth’s kingdom (2 Sm 2:8-11). In Solomon’s day it was assigned to the tenth district of Issachar and was excluded from the main Jezreel Valley. It was administered by Jehoshaphat, son of Paruah (1 Kgs 4:17).

Show passage in OET: SA2 2:9

OET-RV SA2 2:9

9 and declared him to be king over Gilead, and over the Ashurim and Yizre’el (Jezreel), and over Efrayim (Ephraim) and Benyamin, and over all of Yisrael (Israel).

OET-LV SA2 2:9

9 And_he_made _him _king to (the)_Gilˊād and_near/to the_Ashurite[s] and_to Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_over ʼEfrayim and_over Binyāmīn and_over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) of _it _of_all.

Show passage in OET: SA1 29:1

OET-RV SA1 29:1

29 Meanwhile, the Pelishtim had gathered in their camp at Afek, while the Israelis were camped near the Yizre’el (Jezreel) spring.

OET-LV SA1 29:1

29 And_ the_Pəlishtiy _they _gathered DOM all _of armies _of_their to_ʼAfēq and_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) were_encamping at_spring which is_in_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel).

Show passage in OET: SA2 2:8–11

OET-RV SA2 2:8

8 However, Avner (Ner’s son) who’d been Sha’ul’s (Saul) army commander had taken Sha’ul’s son Ish -Boshet across to Mahanayim

OET-RV SA2 2:9

9 and declared him to be king over Gilead, and over the Ashurim and Yizre’el (Jezreel), and over Efrayim (Ephraim) and Benyamin, and over all of Yisrael (Israel).

OET-RV SA2 2:10

10 Ish -Boshet was forty years old when he started to rule over the Israelis, and he ruled them for two years.
¶ But the tribe of Yehudah (Judah) was loyal to David

OET-RV SA2 2:11

11 and he ruled them for seven and a half years.

OET-LV SA2 2:8

8 And_ʼAⱱnēr the _son _of Nēr the_commander _of the_army which belonged_to_Shāʼūl he _had _taken DOM Ish- boshet the _son _of Shāʼūl and_he_had _brought _him _over Maḩₐnāyim.

OET-LV SA2 2:9

9 And_he_made _him _king to (the)_Gilˊād and_near/to the_Ashurite[s] and_to Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_over ʼEfrayim and_over Binyāmīn and_over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) of _it _of_all.

OET-LV SA2 2:10

10 Was_a _son _of forty year[s] Ish- boshet the _son _of Shāʼūl when_he_became _king over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_two years he _reigned only the _house _of Yəhūdāh they _were after Dāvid.

OET-LV SA2 2:11

11 And_ the _number _of the_days which he _was Dāvid king in_Ḩeⱱrōn over the _house _of Yəhūdāh _he/it _was seven years and_six months.

Show passage in OET: KI1 4:17

OET-RV KI1 4:17

17 Paruah’s son Yehoshafat (Jehoshaphat) in Yisakar (Issachar),

OET-LV KI1 4:17

17 Yəhōshāfāţ/(Jehoshaphat) the _son _of Pārūaḩ in_Issachar.

Jump to OET SA2 2:9 section.

Jump to OET SA1 29:1 section.

Jump to OET SA2 2:8–11 section.

Jump to OET KI1 4:17 section.

In the days of Omri (885–874 BC) it was chosen as the site of the king’s winter capital, and the four kings of his dynasty down to Joram (852–841 BC) all resided there. It was to this place that Joram retired to recover from wounds received in battle (2 Kgs 8:29). Jezreel was a walled city with a gate and a tower from which the countryside could be surveyed (9:17), and it was administered by a council of elders and nobles (10:1). The royal palace was adjacent to the vineyard owned by Naboth, the Jezreelite, which was seized illegally by King Ahab (1 Kgs 21). For this dastardly deed the dynasty of Ahab received severe retribution. Jezebel, Ahab’s Phoenician wife, was thrown to the dogs through an upper window at the time of Jehu’s usurpation of the throne. King Joram, wounded in battle, was slain by Jehu along with his courtiers and his body cast into the field of Naboth (2 Kgs 9:24-26). The remnant of Ahab’s household were killed at the same time (10:1-11).

Show passage in OET: KI2 8:29

OET-RV KI2 8:29

29 King Yoram returned to Yizre’el (Jezreel) to recover from the wounds that Arameans had given him at Ramah when he’d fought with Aram’s King Hazael. Later, King Ahazyah of Yehudah (Yehoram’s son), went down to see (Ahav’s son) Yoram in Yizre’el because he was wounded.

OET-LV KI2 8:29

29 And_ Yəhōrām the_king _he _returned to_get _himself _healed in_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) from the_wounds which they_wounded _him the_ʼArām at_Rāmāh when_fought_he with Ḩₐzā^ʼēl the _king _of ʼArām and_ʼAḩaz^yāh the _son _of Yəhōrām the _king _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) he _went _down to_see DOM Yəhōrām/(Joram) the _son _of ʼAḩʼāⱱ in_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) if/because he was_sick.

Show passage in OET: KI2 9:17

OET-RV KI2 9:17

17 The watchman was standing on the watchtower in Yizre’el, and he could see Yehu’s party in the distance as they began approaching the city, and he reported, “I can see a large group.”
¶ King Yoram ordered, “Send out a chariot and go and ask them if they’re coming in peace.”

OET-LV KI2 9:17

17 And_the_watchman was_standing on the_tower in_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_he/it _saw DOM the _crowd _of Yēhūʼ when_came_he and_he/it _said a _crowd _of I am_seeing and_ Yəhōrām _he/it _said take a _horseman and_send_him to_meet_them and_he _will _say peace.

Show passage in OET: KI2 10:1

OET-RV KI2 10:1

10 King Ahav had seventy sons who lived in Shomron (Samaria), so Yehu (Jehu) sent letters to the leaders and elders of Yizre’el (Jezreel), and to the guardians of Ahav’s children, saying,

OET-LV KI2 10:1

10 And_belonged_to_ʼAḩʼāⱱ seventy sons in_Shomrōn and_ Yēhūʼ/(Jehu) _he _wrote letters and_he _sent_them Shomrōn to the _officials _of Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) the_elders and_near/to those_guarding ʼAḩʼāⱱ to_say.

Show passage in OET: KI2 9:24–26

OET-RV KI2 9:24

24 Yehu grabbed his bow, and the arrow struck Yoram between his shoulder blades and came out from his heart, and he slumped down dead in his chariot.

OET-RV KI2 9:25

25 Then Yehu said to his third officer Bidkar, “Pick up his body and throw it out into the field of Navot, the Yizre’eli. I’m sure you remember how you and I were riding as pairs after his father Ahav, when Yahweh said this against him:

OET-RV KI2 9:26

26 ‘Yesterday I saw Navot and his sons killed here, declared Yahweh, and I will repay you in this very place, declares Yahweh.’ So now, throw his body down here because Yahweh declared that it would happen.”

OET-LV KI2 9:24

24 And_Yēhūʼ he _filled his/its_hand with_bow and_he _struck DOM Yəhōrām between arms _of_his and_ the_arrow _he/it _went _out from_heart _of_his and_he _sank _down in_chariot _of_his.

OET-LV KI2 9:25

25 And_he/it _said to Bidqar officer _of_his pick_him_up throw_him in_the _portion _of the _field _of Nāⱱōt the_Yizrəˊ^ʼēlī if/because remember I and_you with were_riding pairs behind ʼAḩʼāⱱ his/its_father and_YHWH he _lifted _up on/upon/above_him/it DOM the_oracle (the)_this.

OET-LV KI2 9:26

26 If not DOM the _blood(s)_of Nāⱱōt and_DOM the _blood(s)_of his _sons _of_his I _saw yesterday the _utterance _of YHWH and_I _will _repay to/for_yourself(m) on_land (the)_this the _utterance _of YHWH and_now pick_him_up throw_him on_land according_to _the _message _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: KI2 10:1–11

OET-RV KI2 10:1

10 King Ahav had seventy sons who lived in Shomron (Samaria), so Yehu (Jehu) sent letters to the leaders and elders of Yizre’el (Jezreel), and to the guardians of Ahav’s children, saying,

OET-RV KI2 10:2

2 “When you all receive this letter, you’ll have the sons of your masters with you, as well as chariots and horses, and weapons within your fortified city.

OET-RV KI2 10:3

3 So select the best and the most honest one out of your masters’ sons or nephews, and establish him on his father’s throne, and then be prepared to defend your masters’ family.”

OET-RV KI2 10:4

4 But they were extremely frightened and said, “Listen—those two kings couldn’t stand against Yehu, so how could we?”

OET-RV KI2 10:5

5 Then the man who was now in charge of the household and leading the city elders sent a message to Yehu, “We are your servants and we’ll do whatever you tell us to. We don’t plan to select a king. Do whatever you think best.”

OET-RV KI2 10:6

6 So Yehu sent a second letter saying, “If you’re all on my side and ready to follow me, come and meet me at Yizre’el tomorrow with the heads of your masters’ sons.”
¶ The late King Ahav had seventy sons who were being brought up by the city leaders,

OET-RV KI2 10:7

7 and when that letter arrived, they killed and beheaded all of them, put the heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Yizre’el.

OET-RV KI2 10:8

8 A messenger went and informed Yehu that the heads had been brought, and he instructed them to pile them up in two piles at the city gate until the next morning.

OET-RV KI2 10:9

9 In the morning he went out and stood there, and he told all the people, “You are innocent. Listen—it was me myself who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?

OET-RV KI2 10:10

10 You all should know that when Yahweh says something will happen, then it will happen. He said via his servant Eliyah (Elijah) that this is what would happen to Ahav’s family, and so it has.”

OET-RV KI2 10:11

11 Then Yehu killed all Ahav’s remaining family members in Yizre’el, and all his chosen leaders, and his associates and priests, leaving no survivors.

OET-LV KI2 10:1

OET-LV KI2 10:2

2 And_now just_ the_letter the_this _as _comes to_you(pl) and_are_with_you(pl) the _sons _of your(pl)_master(s)_of_your(pl) and_are_with_you(pl) (the)_chariotry and_(the)_horses and_a _city _of fortification and_(the)_weaponry.

OET-LV KI2 10:3

3 And_you(pl)_will _see the_good and_the_right from_(the)_sons your(pl)_master(s)_of_your(pl) and_you(pl)_will _set_him on the _throne _of his/its_father and_fight on the _house _of your(pl)_master(s)_of_your(pl).

OET-LV KI2 10:4

4 And_they _saw very very and_they _said THERE the _two _of the_kings not they _stood before_him and_how we will _we _stand.

OET-LV KI2 10:5

5 And_ the_one_who was_over the_house and_which was_over the_city and_the_elders and_the_guardians _he _sent to Yēhūʼ to_say your_servants we and_all/each/any/every that you _will _say to_us we _will _do not we _will _make _king anyone the_good in_eyes _of_your do.

OET-LV KI2 10:6

6 And_he _wrote to_them a _letter second to_say if to_me you(pl) and_to_voice _of_my you(pl) are_listening take DOM the _heads _of the _men _of the _sons _of your(pl)_master(s)_of_your(pl) and_come to_me about_time tomorrow to_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_the _sons the_king seventy man were_with the _great_people_of the_city who _were_bringing _up them.

OET-LV KI2 10:7

7 And_he/it _was just_ the_letter _as _came to_them and_they _took DOM the _sons _of the_king and_they _slaughtered seventy man and_they _put DOM heads _of_their in_baskets and_they _sent_them to_him/it to_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel).

OET-LV KI2 10:8

8 And_ the_messenger _he _came and_he _told to_him/it to_say they _have _brought the _heads _of the _sons _of the_king and_he/it _said make DOM_them two _of heaps the _entrance _of the _gate until the_morning.

OET-LV KI2 10:9

9 And_he/it _was in_morning and_he/it _went _out and_he _stood and_he/it _said to all _of the_people are_righteous you(pl) HERE I I _conspired on my_master and_I_killed _him and_who did _he _strike _down DOM all _of these.

OET-LV KI2 10:10

10 Know then if/because _that not it _will _fall any_of _the _message _of YHWH towards_land which YHWH he _has _spoken on the _house _of ʼAḩʼāⱱ and_YHWH he _has _done DOM that_which he _spoke by_the _hand _of his _servant _of_his ʼĒliy^yāh.

OET-LV KI2 10:11

11 And_ Yēhūʼ/(Jehu) _he _struck _down DOM all _of those_who_remained of_the _house _of of _ʼAḩʼāⱱ in_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_all his _great _of_men and_acquaintances _of_his and_priests _of_his until not left to_him/it a _survivor.

Jump to OET KI2 8:29 section.

Jump to OET KI2 9:17 section.

Jump to OET KI2 10:1 section.

Jump to OET KI2 9:24–26 section.

Jump to OET KI2 10:1–11 section.

After the downfall of Omri’s dynasty, the town declined in importance, although it is mentioned as a village by a number of writers in the Christian era. Eusebius (AD 260–340), for example, refers to it as a village between Scythopolis (Beth-shan) and Legio (Onomasticon 108:13ff.). The Crusaders called it “le Petit Gerim” to distinguish it from “le Grand Gerim.”

Today Jezreel is identified with Zer’in, the site of an Israeli kibbutz about 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) north of Jerusalem. Archaeological remains found in the area point to an occupation in the Iron Age and the Roman period.

2. Town in the mountains of Judah (Jos 15:56). It was the hometown of Ahinoam, one of David’s wives (1 Sm 25:43), but nothing is known about the site today.