Jezreel
Jezreel was a son of Hur, mentioned in the genealogy of Judah (1Ch.4.3).
Biography
Jezreel son of Hur appears in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah preserved in 1 Chronicles 4:3. He is listed among the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and founder of Bethlehem, placing Jezreel within one of the most prominent Judahite lineages in the entire tribal record. His inclusion in these Chronicler's genealogies, compiled during the post-exilic period, served the vital purpose of establishing tribal identities and land claims for the restored community. Though no narrative details about Jezreel's life are preserved, his position in the Judahite genealogy connects him to the heritage from which the Davidic dynasty, and ultimately the Messiah, would emerge through the centuries.
Significance
Jezreel son of Hur represents the vast majority of biblical figures: those who appear only in genealogical lists yet whose existence was integral to God's unfolding plan. The Chronicler's careful recording of such names reflects a theology of divine providence in which every link in the ancestral chain matters. By tracing lineages from the patriarchs through the exile and return, the Chronicler affirmed that God's covenant with Judah had not been severed by catastrophe. Jezreel's place in this record reminds readers that faithfulness transmitted across unnamed generations is itself a form of theological testimony to the God who keeps covenant across centuries.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]
