Neiel
Neiel is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Yanin. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Neiel is mentioned in Joshua 19:27 as a town along the boundary of the tribal territory of Asher, one of the northernmost tribal allotments in Canaan. The boundary description indicates that the border of Asher extended from Helkath through Neiel and continued northward toward Cabul and other Galilean towns. Like many places mentioned in the territorial surveys of Joshua 13-21, Neiel does not appear in any subsequent biblical narrative. Nevertheless, its inclusion in the boundary lists testifies to the detailed care with which Joshua and the tribal leaders parceled out the Promised Land in accordance with God's command through Moses. The allocation of Asher's territory along the rich agricultural lands and coastline of northern Galilee reflected the blessing of Jacob upon Asher: "His food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies" (Genesis 49:20). Each boundary town mentioned in these chapters, including Neiel, served as a legal marker establishing the divinely ordained inheritance of God's people in the land He had sworn to give their ancestors.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Neiel has been tentatively identified with Khirbet Yanin (also written Ya'nin), a site in the lower Galilee region of northern Israel. The identification is based on the geographical context of the Asherite boundary description and the site's position in relation to other identified towns in the list. Some scholars have alternatively proposed Khirbet Yin'am or other nearby tells. Archaeological surveys at Khirbet Yanin have documented pottery from the Bronze and Iron Ages, suggesting occupation during the period of Israelite settlement. However, no systematic excavation has been conducted at the site, and the identification remains provisional. The area of lower Galilee features numerous small tells that were occupied during the biblical period.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →