Jeruel
Jeruel is a region mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Jeruel is a wilderness region mentioned only once in Scripture, in the account of King Jehoshaphat's dramatic victory over a vast coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites (2 Chronicles 20:16). When this overwhelming enemy force invaded Judah from the southeast, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and sought the Lord in prayer before the assembled people at the temple in Jerusalem. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who declared: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley before the Wilderness of Jeruel' (2 Chronicles 20:15-16). Jehoshaphat appointed singers to praise the Lord before the army, and God set ambushes among the enemy forces, who turned on one another and destroyed themselves. Jeruel thus became a place where God demonstrated that faith and worship could accomplish what military might could not, embodying the principle that the battle belongs to the Lord.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The Wilderness of Jeruel is generally located in the Judean Desert east of Tekoa, in the region between the hill country of Judah and the western shore of the Dead Sea. The Ascent of Ziz, mentioned in the same passage, is commonly identified with Wadi Hasasa, which climbs from the En Gedi region toward the Judean plateau. The wilderness area is characterized by stark, arid terrain with deep wadis and limestone cliffs typical of the eastern Judean Desert. No specific archaeological site has been identified with Jeruel, as the name designates a broad wilderness zone rather than a settlement. The region remains sparsely inhabited today, preserving the desolate character described in the biblical narrative.
Verse Appearances (1)
2Chr
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →