The location of Ahab's palace and Jezebel. (The ESV Study BibleTM, English Standard Version (ESV) by Crossway Bibles, 2007. Page 635)
The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, by hundreds and thousands, while the Israelites were encamped by the spring in Jezreel. The lords of the Philistines asked why these Hebrews were here, and despite Achish insisting David's blamelessness to their cause, he had to send David back to Philistia early next morning, while the Philistines continued to Jezreel. (1 Samuel 29)
Abner the son of Ner made Ish-bosheth the son of Saul king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, and all Israel, in Mahanaim. (2 Samuel 2:9)
Elijah raced Ahab's chariot from Mount Carmel to Jezreel. God's hand was upon him, so he reached the entrance first. (1 Kings 8:41-46) He prophesied that dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel. (1 Kings 21:20-24)
People
- Jezreel (Hosea and Gomer's son)
- Ahinoam of Jezreel
- Naboth the Jezreelite who had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria, and was killed for it.
Jezreel
Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while, I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel. - Hosea 1:4-5
Basics
- Grandfathers: Beeri, Diblaim (Hosea 1:1,3) (inferred)
- Father: Hosea, the son of Beeri (Hosea 1:1)
- Mother: Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim (Hosea 1:3)
- Brother: Not My People (Hosea 1:9)
- Sister: No Mercy (Hosea 1:6)
Hosea's ministry
His legitimacy
He was the first child Gomer conceived after the Lord told Hosea to take a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom. Scripture distinguishes that Jezreel was born to him, while his siblings No Mercy and Not My People were merely "born," so perhaps Jezreel is the only biological child Hosea had. (Hosea 1:3,6,8)
His name
The Lord named him to signify His coming judgment on Israel for the blood of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:4-5)
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God." And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:8-11)
A new covenant
And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.
And in that day, I will answer, declares the Lord, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel, and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'
Valley of Jezreel
And the Lord said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of the Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." (Hosea 1:4-5)