other on the border of Issachar’s territory. (Josh. 19:17, 18) An inhabitant of either city was called a Jezreelite(ss). (1 Sam. 27:3; 1 Ki. 21:1) The geographical area embraced by the Valley of Jezreel is often restricted to the low plain extending in a southeasterly direction from the city of Jezreel in Issachar to Beth-shean. But at times the designation “Valley of Jezreel” is also used today to include the low plain W of Jezreel or the Plain of Esdraelon (the Greek form of the Hebrew Jezreel).

1. A descendant of Judah; possibly the forefather of the inhabitants of Jezreel (No. 3, below) or its principal settler.—1 Chron. 4:1, 3; compare ATROTH-BETH-JOAB.

2. Son of the prophet Hosea by his wife Gomer (Hos. 1:3, 4); for the prophetic significance of “Jezreel” see No. 4.

3. A city in the mountainous region of Judah, perhaps founded by No. 1 above. (Josh. 15:20, 48, 56) This Jezreel doubtless was the home of David’s wife Ahinoam. (1 Sam. 25:43) Some tentatively identify it with Khirbet Tarrama, about five and a half miles (c. 9 kilometers) SW of Hebron.

4. A city on the border of Issachar’s territory. (Josh. 19:17, 18) Today Jezreel is linked with Zerʽin, a town located about seven miles (c. 11 kilometers) N of Jenin (En-gannim). Just to the SE lies a crescent-shaped ridge of limestone hills traditionally identified with Mount Gilboa.

Situated at the edge of a rocky descent, Zerʽin overlooks the entire low plain of Jezreel, extending southeastward for nearly twelve miles (19 kilometers) and measuring approximately two miles (3 kilometers) in width. In the time of Joshua this area was controlled by Canaanites having a strong, well-equipped chariotry. (Josh. 17:16) It was also in the low plain of Jezreel that Gideon and his three hundred men witnessed Jehovah’s saving hand as the enemy forces of the Midianites, Amalekites and Easterners turned against one another in confusion. (Judg. 6:33; 7:12-22) Later, the Israelite army under King Saul, encamped by the spring in Jezreel (perhaps ‘Ain Jalud on the NW spur of Mount Gilboa or ‘Ain el-Meiyiteh below the town of Zerʽin), faced the enemy Philistines. Thereafter, from Jezreel report was received about the deaths of Saul and his son Jonathan. (1 Sam. 29:1, 11; 2 Sam. 4:4) Jezreel and its vicinity then came to be part of the territory ruled by Saul’s son Ish-bosheth. (2 Sam. 2:8, 9) And, while Solomon reigned, the assignment of the deputy Baana included the fertile plain of Jezreel.—1 Ki. 4:7, 12.

During the latter half of the tenth century B.C.E. Jezreel served as the royal residence for Israel’s King Ahab and his successor Jehoram, although Samaria was the actual capital of the northern kingdom. (1 Ki. 18:45, 46; 21:1; 2 Ki. 8:29) In the vineyard of Naboth near the palace at Jezreel, the prophet Elijah uttered Jehovah’s judgment against the house of Ahab. (1 Ki. 21:17-29) The prophecy was fulfilled. Jehu slew Ahab’s son King Jehoram and then had his corpse thrown into the tract of Naboth’s field. Ahab’s wife Jezebel became food for the scavenger dogs of Jezreel when dropped from a window at Jehu’s command. The heads of Ahab’s seventy sons, executed by their caretakers in Samaria, were piled up in two heaps at the gate of Jezreel. None of Ahab’s distinguished men, acquaintances and priests at Jezreel escaped.—2 Ki. 9:22-37; 10:5-11.

HOSEA’S PROPHECY

Seemingly, the words of Jehovah to Hosea (1:4) allude to Jehu’s destroying the house of Ahab as “the acts of bloodshed of Jezreel.” Although divinely rewarded for this executional work by being assured of a dynasty of kings to the fourth generation, Jehu, as suggested by his failure to eradicate calf worship, may not have had an altogether pure motive. (2 Ki. 10:30, 31) Perhaps his case parallels that of Babylon. Though serving as an instrument to execute Jehovah’s judgment and rewarded accordingly, Babylon’s presumptuousness required that her bloodguiltiness be avenged.—Jer. 27:5-8; 50:14, 29-34; 51:34, 35; Ezek. 29:18-20.

The prophetic name “Jezreel,” by which Jehovah instructed Hosea to call his son by Gomer, pointed to a future accounting against the house of Jehu. That accounting came when Jehu’s great-great-grandson Zechariah, after ruling for six months, was murdered, and the assassin Shallum seized the throne. (2 Ki. 15:8-10) Thus ended the dynasty of Jehu. About fifty years later, in 740 B.C.E., when the northern kingdom fell to Assyria and its inhabitants were exiled, the royal rule of the house of Israel ceased completely. At that time the “bow of Israel,” that is, its military strength, was definitely broken. The prophecy had, indicated that this would take place in the low plain of Jezreel, perhaps because the Assyrians gained a decisive victory there.—Hos. 1:4, 5.

However, through his prophet Hosea, Jehovah also pointed to a favorable meaning of “Jezreel.” By regathering the remnant of Israel and Judah and then bringing his people back to their land, Jehovah would sow seed.—Hos. 1:11; 2:21-23; compare Zechariah 10:8-10.

JIDLAPH

(Jidʹlaph) [perhaps, he weeps].

The seventh listed of the eight sons borne to Nahor by his wife Milcah. Jidlaph was therefore a nephew of Abraham and an uncle to Isaac’s wife Rebekah.—Gen. 22:20-23; 24:67.

JOAB

(Joʹab) [Jehovah is father].

1. Son of Seraiah, a descendant of Kenaz of the tribe of Judah. Joab was “the father of Ge-harashim” (meaning “valley of craftsmen”), “for,” says the Bible account, “craftsmen are what they became.” Evidently Joab was “father” or founder of the community of craftsmen living in the valley.—1 Chron. 4:1, 13, 14; see GE-HARASHIM.

2. The second of three sons of David’s half-sister Zeruiah (the daughter of David’s mother, evidently not by Jesse, but by an earlier marriage to Nahash—2 Sam. 17:25). Joab was therefore the nephew of David. His brothers were Abishai and Asahel. (2 Sam. 8:16; 1 Chron. 2:13-16) In identifying these three men the mother’s name is recorded rather than the father’s, because she was David’s sister; thus the relationship of David to the three men is made clear.

CHARACTERISTICS

Joab was an able general, a man of organizational ability, resourceful and decisive. On the other hand, he was an ambitious opportunist, vengeful, cunning, and at times unscrupulous.

Joab was at the head of David’s men at the time Ish-bosheth the son of Saul ruled over all Israel with the exception of the tribe of Judah, which clung to David. (2 Sam. 2:10) The servants of Ish-bosheth and those of David were drawn up against one another at the pool of Gibeon, Ish-bosheth’s forces being under command of Saul’s uncle Abner, who had been responsible for putting Ish-bosheth on the throne. As the men sat facing one another, Abner suggested a combat between twelve men from each side. When they grabbed hold of one another by the head, each ran his opponent through with the sword, all falling down dead together. (2 Sam. 2:12-16) The issue not being settled by the combat, a full-scale battle resulted. A count afterward revealed that Ish-bosheth’s forces lost 360 men, and David’s, only twenty.—2 Sam. 2:30, 31.

During the fight, as Abner fled, Joab’s fleet-footed brother Asahel pursued Abner. Despite remonstrances and warnings from Abner, Asahel persisted until finally Abner thrust backward with the butt end of his spear, piercing him through. (2 Sam. 2:18-23) Reaching the hill of Ammah, Abner and his men gathered on its top, from which Abner made appeal to stop the fighting in order to avoid bitterness