the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Bible Encyclopedias
Jezreel, Valley of
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (עֵמֶק, Joshua 17:16; Judges 6, 33; Hosea 1:5). On the northern side of the city, between the parallel ridges of Gilboa and Moreh (now called Jebel ed-Duhy; (See MOREH) ), lies a rich valley (hence its name, God's seeding-place), an offshoot of Esdraelon, running down eastward to the Jordan. This was called the "Valley of Jezreel;" and Bethshean with the other towns in and around the valley, was originally inhabited by a fierce and warlike race who had "chariots of iron" (Joshua 17:16). The region fell chiefly to the lot of Issachar, but neither this tribe nor its more powerful neighbor Ephraim was able to drive out the ancient people (Joshua 19:18). The "valley of Jezreel" became the scene of one of the most signal victories ever achieved by the Israelites, and of one of the most melancholy defeats they ever sustained. In the time of the Judges, the Midianites, Amalekites, and "children of the East" crossed the Jordan, and "pitched in the valley of Jezreel," almost covering its green pastures with their tents, flocks, and herds (Judges 6:33 sq.). Gideon hastily summoned the warriors of Israel round his standard, and took up a position on the lower slopes of Gilboa, close to the "well of Harod" (7, 1; also called "the fountain of Jezreel"), about a mile east of the city. (See above.) (See GIDEON).
Two centuries later the Philistines took up the identical position formerly occupied by the Midianites, and the Israelites under Saul pitched on Gideon's old camping ground by the "fountain of Jezreel" (1 Samuel 29:1-11). The Israelites were defeated, and Saul and Jonathan, with the flower of their troops, fell on the heights of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1-6). (See SAUL).
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