Bible Dictionary
Jezreel, Valley of
The valley of Jezreel lay between the ranges of Gilboa and Moreh and extended toward the Jordan. It was the scene of Gideon’s victory over Midian and of the defeat and death of Saul and Jonathan by the Philistines.
Definition
The valley of Jezreel lay north of the city, between the ridges of Gilboa and Moreh, and extended eastward toward the Jordan. In later usage the name was extended to the wider plain of Esdraelon.
Biblical Usage
The valley was the scene of Gideon’s victory over Midian, Amalek, and the peoples of the east. Later the Israelites were defeated there by the Philistines, and Saul and Jonathan died in the battle.
Historical Background
The valley was an eastern extension of Esdraelon and was one of the areas accessible to the chariots of the Canaanites. Its position connected the region with routes approaching from the east.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lying on the northern side of the city, between the ridges of Gilboa and Moreh, an offshoot of Esdraelon, running east to the Jordan (Josh. 17:16; Judg. 6:33; Hos. 1:5). It was the scene of the signal victory gained by the Israelites under Gideon over the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the “children of the east” (Judg. 6:3). Two centuries after this the Israelites were here defeated by the Philistines, and Saul and Jonathan, with the flower of the army of Israel, fell (1 Sam. 31:1-6). This name was in after ages extended to the whole of the plain of Esdraelon (q.v.). It was only this plain of Jezreel and that north of Lake Huleh that were then accessible to the chariots of the Canaanites (comp. 2 Kings 9:21; 10:15).