Israel

Jezreel

Meaning
The name Jezreel means "God sows" or "God scatters seed," referring to the fertile valley where the city stood. There stood King Ahab's country palace, the setting for the murder of Naboth and the bloody fall of his dynasty at the hands of Jehu.
About the place

Jezreel was a city of the tribe of Issachar, built on a hill overlooking the vast fertile valley of the same name, between Mount Gilboa and Mount Carmel.

In the 9th century BC, King Ahab built a country palace there. Beside it lay Naboth’s vineyard, which he refused to sell because it was his family’s inheritance.

Naboth’s refusal, the murder plotted by Queen Jezebel, and Ahab’s seizure of the vineyard turned Jezreel into the setting for one of the gravest injustices in the Old Testament.

Years later, it was also in Jezreel that the judgment announced by Elijah against the house of Ahab was fulfilled. Jehu killed King Joram in that same field of Naboth, and Jezebel died there, exactly as the prophet had predicted.

The prophet Hosea later used the name Jezreel as a symbol of God’s judgment over the blood shed there, but also as a promise of future restoration for the people.

Key verses

Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood, yes, yours!’”

1 Kings 21:19

Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’”

2 Kings 9:37

Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

Hosea 1:4

What happened here

Elijah runs ahead of Ahab to Jezreel

After the confrontation with Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel, the rain returned and Ahab set off by chariot for Jezreel. Strengthened by the Lord, Elijah ran ahead of the king all the way to the city.

1 Kings 18:45-46

Naboth's vineyard and the murder plotted by Jezebel

Beside Ahab's palace in Jezreel lay Naboth's vineyard, which he refused to sell because it was his family inheritance. Jezebel arranged false charges against him, he was stoned, and Ahab took the vineyard.

1 Kings 21:1-16

Elijah announces judgment on Ahab and Jezebel

The Lord sent Elijah to confront Ahab in Naboth's own vineyard, announcing that dogs would lick the king's blood in the same place where they had licked Naboth's, and that they would also devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.

1 Kings 21:17-24

Jehu kills King Joram in Naboth's field

Jehu, anointed to end Ahab's dynasty, went to Jezreel and killed King Joram with an arrow, ordering his body to be thrown onto the very land that had belonged to Naboth.

2 Kings 9:14-26

Jezebel's death in Jezreel

Jezebel made herself ready and watched from a palace window when Jehu arrived in Jezreel. On his orders, she was thrown from the window, and dogs devoured her body, fulfilling Elijah's word.

2 Kings 9:30-37

The heads of Ahab's seventy sons in Jezreel

Jehu demanded that Samaria's leaders send the heads of Ahab's seventy descendants to Jezreel, where they were stacked in two piles at the city gate.

2 Kings 10:1-8
Timeline
around 1400 BC

Jezreel is listed as a city in Issachar's territory.

around 860 BC

King Ahab has a palace in Jezreel; the episode of Naboth's vineyard occurs, along with the judgment announced by Elijah.

around 841 BC

Jehu kills King Joram in Jezreel, in Naboth's own field.

around 841 BC

Jezebel dies in Jezreel, and the heads of Ahab's seventy sons are brought to the city.

8th century BC

The prophet Hosea uses the name Jezreel as a symbol of judgment and future hope.

People linked to this place
A

Ahab

Was king of Israel and owned the palace

J

Jezebel

Was queen and died here as prophesied

N

Naboth

Owned the vineyard and was murdered here

E

Elijah

Was the prophet who announced judgment

J

Joram

Was king of Israel and was killed by Jehu

J

Jehu

Carried out judgment on Ahab

Books where it appears

Joshua

city listed in Issachar's territory

1 Kings

Naboth's vineyard and judgment against Ahab

2 Kings

the fall of Ahab's dynasty in Jezreel

Hosea

a name used as a symbol of judgment and restoration

The place today
The place today

Jezreel is identified with the archaeological site of Tel Jezreel, on a hill overlooking the fertile valley of the same name, south of the modern city of Afula in northern Israel.

Excavations there have revealed a large fortified complex from Ahab's time, consistent with the biblical description of a royal palace. Today a small farming community, Kibbutz Yizreel, occupies the area.

Jezreel is in Israel. Pray that these people may know the fullness of the gospel of Christ.

Pray for this nation today: Israel

Other places

Biblical place

Tyre