The Jezreel Valley, a strategically important and fertile valley in northern Israel, was the site of several significant battles in the Bible.
Also known as Valley of Jezreel
The Jezreel Valley, also known as the Plain of Esdraelon, is a large, fertile valley located in northern Israel. It is situated between the Galilee region in the north and the Samaria region in the south. The valley is known for its rich agricultural land and has been an important trade route since ancient times. In the Bible, the Jezreel Valley is mentioned as the site of several significant battles. In Judges 6:33, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples camped in the valley to attack Israel, but Gideon defeated them with God's help. The valley is also associated with the defeat of Saul and his sons by the Philistines (1Sa.29.1, 31:1-7). In Hosea 1:5, the prophet uses the name "Jezreel" symbolically to represent God's judgment on Israel, saying that God will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel. Some scholars believe that the Jezreel Valley may be the site of the future Battle of Armageddon mentioned in Revelation 16:16, although this interpretation is debated.
Approximate location: 32.556, 35.331 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
3 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3157
“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.