יְשָׁנָה

Jeshanah, a place in Palestine

Definition

Jeshanah is a proper noun referring to a town in the ancient territory of Benjamin, located in the central hill country of Palestine. It is mentioned specifically in 2 Chronicles 13:19 as one of the towns captured by King Abijah of Judah from King Jeroboam of Israel during their conflict. The name itself means 'old' or 'ancient,' likely describing the town's age or establishment. No other distinct biblical meanings or senses are associated with this place name.

Biblical Usage

The word יְשָׁנָה (Yᵉshânâh) is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 13:19. In this context, it functions strictly as a geographical location—a town captured by Judah from Israel. The usage is purely historical and descriptive within the narrative of the war between the two kingdoms, with no patterns of figurative or repeated application elsewhere in Scripture.

Etymology

The name Jeshanah is the feminine form of the Hebrew adjective יָשָׁן (yāshān, H3465), which means 'old,' 'ancient,' or 'former.' It is derived from a root connoting age or antiquity. As a place name, it likely signified that the settlement was an 'old town' or had been long-established, a common practice in naming locations based on their perceived history.

Semantic Range

In its original setting, a town name like Jeshanah ('old') would have communicated its established, possibly venerable status within the region. For ancient Israelites, such names often carried implicit claims about a location's longevity and stability, which could be significant in territorial disputes, as seen in 2 Chronicles 13. The capture of such a town was not just a military gain but also a symbolic assertion of control over an ancient part of the land.

יָשָׁן (yāshān, H3465) — The masculine adjective meaning 'old,' from which Jeshanah is directly derived.

Word Details

Scripture References