Bible Strands
Joshua 19:18
Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua records the territorial allotment for the clans of Issachar as the fourth lot is cast. The narrator lists the boundary markers assigned to this tribe during the division of Canaan.
The words — The Hebrew phrase גְּבוּלָ֑ם (ge.vu.lam) translates literally to "their border," anchoring the subsequent place names as defined territorial limits. The verb וַ/יְהִ֖י (va/y.Hi) functions as a narrative connector meaning "and it was," introducing the list.
The thread — Shunem appears later as a Philistine campsite in 1 Samuel 28:4, a host city for Elisha in 2 Kings 4:8, and the origin of Abishag in 1 Kings 1:3. Jezreel and Kesulloth function primarily as geographical markers within this tribal boundary list.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition of God’s precise allocation of land to each tribe. It requires the reader to treat the listed towns as concrete historical boundaries rather than abstract symbols.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 28:4 The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
- 2 Kings 4:8 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat.
- 1 Kings 1:3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
- 1 Kings 2:17 Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
- 1 Kings 2:21 So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
- 1 Kings 21:1 Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
- 1 Kings 21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”
- 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call the Shunammite woman.” And when he had called her, she stood before him,
- 2 Kings 8:29 So King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.
- 2 Kings 9:15 but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.) So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.”