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THE JEZREEL VALLEY
A. HISTORICAL BACKGOUND
The Plain of Jezreel, or simply the Jezreel Valley, took its name from one of the most important cities which flourished there during the Biblical period. The valley extends across the breadth of the country, between Mt. Carmel, Mount Gilboa and the Hills of Lower Galilee. The River Kishon flows through its whole length to the Mediterranean Sea. From early times the valley was of the utmost importance to communications between the coast and the countries to the north and east. Fortified cities of Megiddo, Tannach, Ibleam, and BethShean were built in order to guard the mountain passes leading into and from the valley.
Some of the greatest battles in Biblical history took place here, including the battle between Deborah and Sisera (Judges 4-5); the battle between Gideon and the Midianites (Judges 7), the battle between Saul and the Philistines (I Sam. 29 and 31), and the battle between Josiah and Pharaoh Necho (II Kgs. 23:29-30).
In the Persian Period, the Jezreel Valley was part of the satrapy of Samaria. In the Hellenistic Period, the Ptolemies had large estates on the fertile plain. The Valley was conquered by the Maccabees and later formed part of Herod’s kingdom.
B. BIBLICAL REFERENCES (to the Valley and other surrounding sites)
1. Jezreel Valley:
a. Joshua 17:16 And the children of Joseph said, “The hill is not enough for us. and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and its towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.”
b. Judges 6:33 Gideon and his men camp in the valley of Jezreel.
2. Kishon River
a. Judges 4:7-21 Barak and Deborah battle Sisera in the valley near Mt. Tabor. God sent a cloudburst of rain which apparently caused the river to overflow in the valley. Sisera flees from his chariot on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. The sleeping Sisera is greeted with a tent peg. Judges 5:1f Deborah’s song: “The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river of Kishon.”
b. I Kings 18:40 Elijah took the prophets of Baal, 450 of them, and killed them at the brook Kishon.
3. Mt. Gilboa
a. I Sam. 28:4 With the Philistines at Shunem and Saul and Israelites at Gilboa, Saul consults a witch at Endor.
b. I Sam. 31:1-5 The Philistines conquer the Israelites, Saul is wounded, and dies on Mt. Gilboa. His body is taken and hung on the walls of Bethshean.
4. Mt. Moreh
a. Gen. 12:6 Abraham passes through to the plain of Moreh.
b. Judges 7:1f The Midianites battle Gideon and his 300 men. The Midianites are to the north of Gideon by the hill of Moreh.
5. Mt. Tabor
a. Judges 4:6-24 The battle between Sisera and Deborah/Barak takes place near Mt. Tabor.
b. Psalm 89:12 "..Tabor and Herman will rejoice in Your Name.”
6. Jokeam
a. Josh. 12:22 Joshua takes 31 cites, Jokneam is one of them.
7. Megiddo
(See specific page)
8. Taanach
a. Josh. 12:21 Joshua takes 31 cities, Taanach is one of them.
b. Judges 1:27 Manasseh was unable to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants of Taanach.
9. Jezreel
a. I Sam. 29;1f The Israelites are camped near Jezreel before the Philistines move north.
b. I Kgs. 18:45 After Elijah kills the prophets of Baal, Ahab rides to Jezreel.
c. I Kgs. 21:1f Naboth, the Jezreelite, has a vineyard close to the palace of Ahab. Jezebel tricks Naboth and he is killed. As a consequence, a prophetic word is said, “The dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”
d. II Kgs. 10:1f Jehu orders the servants in Samaria to kill the 70 sons of Ahab. After they do, they bring their heads to the gate of Jezreel and lay them in two heaps.
10. Harod Spring
a. Judges 7:1f. With the Midianites dwelling in the Jezreel Valley, Gideon is camping at the Spring of Harod. He reduces his army here to 300 men.
11. Shunem
a. II Kgs. 4:8f Elisha raises the son of the widow from the dead.
12. Nain
a. Luke 7:11f Jesus raises the dead boy back to life. The dead body was already being carried outside the city when Jesus enters the scene.