Joshua 15:56
And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
These cities lay in the hill country southwest of Hebron. The region's rolling hills and seasonal rainfall made it suitable for grain cultivation and grazing, though less fertile than the coastal plain or northern valleys. The need for careful water management and seasonal adaptation made residents dependent on God's provision of rain "in its season" (Deuteronomy 11:14).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the name 'Jezreel' (God sows) reflect dependence on divine blessing for fruitfulness in our work?
- What does the existence of multiple places with identical names teach about the importance of context in biblical interpretation?
- How might living in marginal agricultural land increase awareness of dependence on God's provision?
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Analysis & Commentary
And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah—Jezreel (יִזְרְעֶאל, "God sows") here refers not to the famous northern valley but a city in Judah's hill country, home of Ahinoam who became David's wife (1 Samuel 27:3). The Hebrew name's meaning—"God sows"—reflects agricultural hope in a region requiring divine blessing for fruitfulness. Jokdeam (יָקְדְעָם) and Zanoah (זָנוֹחַ) are less prominent but equally part of Judah's inheritance.
The repetition of names (Jezreel appears both in Judah and in the northern Valley of Jezreel) reminds us that different places can share identical names, requiring contextual discernment. This mirrors spiritual reality: identical biblical terms can have different applications depending on context (e.g., "Israel" as person, nation, or spiritual community). Proper interpretation requires attention to specific context rather than assuming all identical terms mean the same thing.