JEZREEL (jez're-e1), (Heb. yiz-reh ale', sown by God).
/. A descendant of Judah, onc of the family of the father, or founder, of Etam (1 Chron. iv:3). It is probable, from the association of names in this passage that he was the founder of the town in Judah by his name (Josh. xv :56), B. C. about 1612.
2. The eldest son of the prophet Hosea (Hos. i :4), so nained in token of the great slaughter predicted by the prophet. He is also, with his brother Lo-ammi, and sister Lo-ruliama, the sym bol of the Israelites, restored after their approach ing exile (Hos. i :6, 9; 11:22, 23), B. C. about 782.
3. A town in the tribe of Issachar (Josh. xix: 18), where the kings of Israel had a palace, and where the court often resided, although Samaria was the metropolis of the kingdom. It is most frequently mentioned in the history of the house of Ahab. Here was the vineyard of Naboth. which Ahab coveted to enlarge the palace-grounds (1 Kings xviii :45, 46; xxi), and here Jehu exe cuted his dreadful commission against the house of Ahab, when Jezebel, Joram, and all who were connected with that wretched dynasty perished (2 Kings ix:14-37; x:t-t1).
These horrible scenes appear to have given the kings of Israel a distaste to this residence, as it is not again mentioned in their history. It is. how ever, named by Hosea (i :4, comp. i ii :22); and in Judith (i :8 ; iv:3; vii :3) it occurs under the name of Esdraelon.
In the days of Eusebius and Jerome it was still a large village, called Esdraela, and in the same age it again occurs as Stradela (Itin. Hieros. p. 586). Nothing more is heard of it till the time of the Crusades. when it was called by the Franks Parvum Gerinum, and by the Arabs Zerin. It ceased to be mentioned hy travelers till Turner, Buckingham, and othcrs after them again brought it into notice; and it is still more lately that the identification of Zerin and Jezreel has been re stored (Raumer, PaZYst. p. 155; Schubert, iii:164; Elliot, ii:379; Robinson, iii:t64).
Zerin is seated on the brow of a rocky and very steep descent into the great and fertile valley of Jezreel, which runs doNvn between the mountains of Gilboa and Hermon. Lying comparatively high cormnands a wide and noble view. extending down the broad valley on the east to Beisan (Beth shean), and on the west quite across the great plain to the mountains of Carmel. It is described
by Dr. Robinson (Researches, iii:t63) as a most magnificent site for a city. which, being itself a conspicuous object in every part. would naturally give its name to the whole region.
Zerin has at present a small number of hum ble dwellings, niostly in ruins, and with few in habitants.
(1) Jezreel, Blood of ("I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jeliu," Hos. i :4)• This probably refers to the murders and outrages committed by Ahab and Jeliu at this place. In 2 Kings x :30 God approved of the acts of Jehu in his extermination of the house of Ahab. But very clearly, according to 2 Kings x :29, 31, Jchu did it not for the glory of God, but for his own advancement and interests. He was, therefore, a cruel, relentless murderer, although an inAru ment of the Divine vengeance.
(2) Jezreel, Ditch of. An entrenchment for the protection of the city, outside of which Naboth was put to death (I Kings xxi :23).
(3) Jezreel, Fountain of. The waters by which Saul encamped before the battle of Gilboa ( Sam. xxix :1). There is still a fine spring of water a little east of Zerin (Robinson, hi :168), which is probably the one mentioned in the above pas sage.
(4) Jezreel, Portion of. The field or country adjoining the city, where the crime of Ahab had been committed, and its retribution was to be ex acted (2 Kings ix :io. 21, 36, etc.).
(5) Jezreel, Tower of. One of the fortifica tions of the city (2 Kings ix :17).
(6) Jezreel, Valley of (Josh. xvii:16; vi:33; Hos. i:5), situated between the ridges of Gilboa and Moreh, now called Jebel ed-Duhy. It was the scene of one of the most glorious victories as well as one of the most bitter defeats by the Israelites. In the time of the Judges it was oc cupied by the Amalekites and Midianites (Judg.
vi :33 sq.), who were driven out by Gideon (Judg. vii :1). Two hundred years later Saul was here defeated by the Philistines (I Sam. xxix :1-11 ; xxxi :1-6).
4. A city in the mountains of Judah (Josh • xv :56). It 1.vas probably from this place that David took his first wife, Ahinoam (I Sam. xxvii :3; xxx :5). Perhaps identical with the mod ern Zurtut (Robinson. Researches, ii:2or)