a royal city of the kings of Israel, who sometimes resided here
as well as at Samaria. Ahab, in particular, is known to have made this
his residence; near to whose palace was the vineyard of the unfortunate
Naboth. The name of Jezreel was by the Greeks moulded into that of
Esdraela; which is described by Eusebius and Jerom, in the fourth
century, as a considerable town. In like manner, the valley of Jezreel
obtained the name of the valley or plain of Esdraelon; which is still
described as very fertile, and much frequented by the Arabs for its fine
pasturage. This is the largest, and at the same time the most fertile,
plain in the land of Canaan; and is called, by way of eminence, the
Great Plain. It may be estimated at thirty miles in length, and twenty
in breadth. The river Kishon flows through it. See ESDRAELON.
JOAB was the son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and brother to Abishai and
Asahel. He was one of the most valiant soldiers and greatest generals in
David’s time; but he was also cruel, revengeful, and imperious. He
performed great services for David, to whose interests he was always
firm, and was commander-in-chief of his troops, when David was king of
Judah only. His history is related in the second book of Samuel and the
first book of Kings. See DAVID, ABNER, and AMASA.
as well as at Samaria. Ahab, in particular, is known to have made this
his residence; near to whose palace was the vineyard of the unfortunate
Naboth. The name of Jezreel was by the Greeks moulded into that of
Esdraela; which is described by Eusebius and Jerom, in the fourth
century, as a considerable town. In like manner, the valley of Jezreel
obtained the name of the valley or plain of Esdraelon; which is still
described as very fertile, and much frequented by the Arabs for its fine
pasturage. This is the largest, and at the same time the most fertile,
plain in the land of Canaan; and is called, by way of eminence, the
Great Plain. It may be estimated at thirty miles in length, and twenty
in breadth. The river Kishon flows through it. See ESDRAELON.
JOAB was the son of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and brother to Abishai and
Asahel. He was one of the most valiant soldiers and greatest generals in
David’s time; but he was also cruel, revengeful, and imperious. He
performed great services for David, to whose interests he was always
firm, and was commander-in-chief of his troops, when David was king of
Judah only. His history is related in the second book of Samuel and the
first book of Kings. See DAVID, ABNER, and AMASA.