Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 19:18
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
18. And their border ] lay above that of Manasseh, and, according to Josephus, “extended in length from Carmel to the Jordan, and in breadth to Mount Tabor.”
was toward Jezreel ] Observe in this verse that the description of the boundaries of this tribe, though begun, is not continued. Instead, the names of the cities are given, which were included in it.
Jezreel ] (= the planting, or seed-plot, of God, now Zerin), stood in the celebrated plain of the name between Gilboa and little Hermon on the brow of a very steep rocky slope of at least 100 feet in a strong and central position, commanding the view towards the Jordan on the east (2Ki 9:17), and visible from Carmel on the west (1Ki 18:46). The splendid site induced Ahab to make it his chief residence. Here ( a) he had his palace and “ivory house” (1Ki 21:1; 1Ki 22:39); here ( b) he had a watch-tower whence sentinels were able to give timely notice of danger (2Ki 9:17); here ( c) Jezebel lived, and from her high window facing eastward watched the entrance of the conquering Jehu (2Ki 9:30).
Chesulloth ] (= “ the loins ”) was probably so called from its position on the slopes of some mountain, possibly between Jezreel and Shunem. On Mr Grove’s map it is marked direct north of Jezreel, and is identified with Chisloth-tabor, the “Xaloth” of Josephus ( B. J. iii. 3.1), the “Chasalus” of Jerome.
and Shunem ] Now Solm, three miles to the N.E. of Jezreel in the Esdraelon plain, “full in view of the sacred spot on Mount Carmel, and situated in the midst of the finest corn-fields in the world.” Here ( a) the Philistines encamped before the fatal battle of Gilboa (1Sa 28:4); here ( b) was the native place of Abishag (1Ki 1:3); here ( c) Elisha often lodged in the house of the “Shunammite woman,” and here ( d) he raised her son to life (2Ki 4:8-37; 2Ki 8:1-6).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jezreel and its famous and fertile plain are the choicest part of the inheritance of Issachar Jos 17:16.
Shunem – Here the Philistines pitched before the battle of Gilboa 1Sa 28:4. The place is also known as the home of Abishag 1Ki 1:3, and in connection with Elisha 2Ki 4:8; 2Ki 8:1. It is identified with Solam (or, Sulem), a small and poor village on the slope of Little Hermon.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. Jezreel] This city, according to Calmet, was situated in an open country, having the town of Legion on the west, Bethshan on the east, on the south the mountains of Gilboa, and on the north those of Hermon.
Shunem] This city was rendered famous by being the occasional abode of the prophet Elisha, and the place where he restored the son of a pious woman to life. 2Kg 4:8. It was the place where the Philistines were encamped on that ruinous day in which the Israelites were totally routed at Gilboa, and Saul and his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, killed. 1Sa 28:4; 1Sa 31:1, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jezreel, the royal city, 1Ki 21:1. This tribe, because it lay between Benjamin on the south and Zebulun on the north, is not here described by its borders, which were the same with theirs; but by some of its cities. Shunera, the birth-place of Abishag, 1Ki 1:3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And their border was towards Jezreel,…. Which was a royal seat in the time of Ahab, 1Ki 21:1; and according to Jerom was near to Maximianopolis; [See comments on Ho 1:5]; and the same writer u says in his day a large village of this name was shown in the great plain between Scythopolis and Legion (he means the plain of Jezreel), and it was the border of Issachar:
and Chesulloth was different from the Chislothtabor, Jos 19:12; that, as Masius observes, was to the north, this to the south of Mount Tabor;
and Shunem is a place well known for being the dwelling place of a certain woman in the times of Elisha, whose son the prophet raised from the dead, 2Ki 4:8; Jerom calls it Sonam, where was the Shunammite woman; but this city here seems to be what he calls Salem, in the tribe of Issachar; and he adds, that there was shown in his day a village by this name, five miles from Mount Tabor to the south w: according to Bunting x, it was forty eight miles from Jerusalem to the north, not far from Nain.
u De loc. Heb. fol. 92. I. w De loc. Heb. fol. 94. K. L. x Travels, p. 143.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) Zerin (sheet 8), Iksal (sheet 6), Slem (sheet 9).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Their border was toward Jezreel Or, rather, it encompassed this city. The writer begins to trace the border, but really enumerates the cities included within it. These were all in the eastern part of the plain of Esdraelon. Jezreel, a name often applied to the plain of Esdraelon, is here limited to a city standing on a gentle swell which rises out of it. It was the chief residence of King Ahab, and seat of the worship of Baal and Astarte, the cult of the Phenician Jezebel. It was remarkable for its central location, and the great beauty and commanding character of its site. Its modern name is Zerin, containing only a few wretched hovels clustering around an old, ruined tower.
Chesulloth Probably the same as Chisloth-tabor in Jos 19:12. [ Shunem was at the modern village of Solam, which lies at the western base of the Little Hermon, and about three miles north of Jezreel. Here the Philistines encamped before Saul’s last battle, (1Sa 28:4,) and here was the home of the Shunammite woman whose son Elisha raised to life. 2Ki 4:8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And their border was to Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez, and Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez.’
Issachar’s borders appear to have been fluid and its area mainly delineated by cities. This ties in with their close relationship with Zebulun and the fact that some of their area was allocated to Manasseh (Jos 17:11). Their area was to the south east of Zebulun and the south of Naphtali, in the south east of the Great Plain of Jezreel/Esdraelon. Esdraelon is the Greek for Jezreel and the latter name is often applied to the whole of the Great Plain, but they are also often seen as two sections of the Plain. Manasseh were to the south. Possibly the writer saw Issachar’s borders as sufficiently delineated elsewhere. Settling in the plains was made difficult by the prevalence of Canaanite cities and Issachar would therefore first settle in cleared forest land and the mountains. Whether some gave themselves up to forced labour in return for the comforts of Canaanite civilisation, like their ancestor (see Gen 49:14-15), we do not know.
Jezreel (Hebrew Yizra’el – ‘God sows’) was at the east end of the Jezreel Plain ninety kilometres north of Jerusalem, and is identified with Zer’in. It was not a fortified site until the time of Ahab, when it was his chariot centre. Parts of Israelite buildings have been found. It was by its spring that Israel gathered before engaging the Philistines at Gilboa where Saul and Jonathan died (1Sa 29:1; 1Sa 31:1). Chesulloth was in the Plain, west of Tabor. Whether it was different from Chisloth-tabor (Jos 19:12) is open to question. If the same it was clearly a joint city on the border. Shunem is possibly modern Solem, five to six kilometres (three and a half miles) north of Jezreel. It was where the Philistines camped before they moved on to Aphek prior to the battle of Gilboa (1Sa 28:4), and where Elisha often found shelter (2Ki 4:8) and raised a dead child (2Ki 4:34-35). It was possibly the place named in the Egyptian lists of Thothmes III (about 1550 BC) and of Shishak (about 950 BC) as Shanema.
“And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez.” Hapharaim is also found in Shishak’s list as Hapurama. Khirbet Farriyeh, nine kilometres (five to six miles) north west of el-Lejjun has been suggested. Shion is perhaps ‘Ayun esh-Sha‘in, five kilometres (three miles) north west of Tabor. Anaharith is possibly the ’Anuhertu of Thothmes list. ‘Arraneh, four kilometres (two and a half miles) north east of modern Jenin has been suggested as a possible site. Rabbith could be Raba, eleven kilometres (seven miles) south east of Janin (En-gannim? – Jos 19:21). Kishion (see Jos 21:28) and Ebez are unknown.
“And Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez.” Remeth (rmth) is possibly the Jarmuth (yrmth) of Jos 21:29 and the Ramoth (rmth) of 1Ch 6:73. The Egyptians called the area ‘the hills of Yarmuta’, the elevated region north west of Beth-shean. A stele of Seti I (about 1300 BC) stated that various ‘Apiru tribes were settled there and had been subjected to Egypt. But these were not necessarily Israel (compare the ‘Apiru at Shechem – Jos 8:30). En-gannim (‘spring of gardens’) is possibly modern Jenin where there is still a plentiful spring. See for it Jos 21:29 and 1Ch 6:73 where it is abbreviated as Anem. (Other possible identifications are Olam or Khirbet Beit Jann). En-haddah and Beth-pazzez are unidentified but probably close by. The whole area was very fruitful.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 19:18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
Ver. 18. And their border was toward Jezreel, &c. ] In a rich and fat soil, according to that was foretold by Jacob and Moses; Gen 49:14-15 Deu 33:18-19 – “And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant: and he bowed his shoulders to bear, and became a servant to tribute.” This was a low poor spirit, and his posterity were, for the general, very unworthy and vile: for his lot here fell in Galilee. Now “doth any good come from Galilee?” saith good Nathanael.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jezreel: 1Ki 21:1, 1Ki 21:15, 1Ki 21:16, 2Ki 8:29, 2Ki 9:15, 2Ki 9:30, Hos 1:4, Hos 1:5
Chesulloth: Probably the same as Chisloth-tabor. Jos 19:12
Shunem: 1Sa 28:4, 1Ki 1:3, 1Ki 2:17, 1Ki 2:21, 2Ki 4:8, 2Ki 4:12
Reciprocal: Jos 17:16 – Jezreel Jdg 6:33 – the valley 1Sa 29:1 – Jezreel 1Sa 29:11 – And the Philistines 2Sa 2:9 – over Jezreel 1Ki 18:45 – Ahab
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 19:18. Jezreel The royal city, 1Ki 21:1. This tribe, because it lay between Benjamin on the south and Zebulun on the north, is not here described by its borders, which were the same with theirs, but by some of its cities.