Lexical Summary Mishal: Mishal Original Word: מִשְׁאָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mishal, Misheal From sha'al; request; Mishal, a place in Palestine -- Mishal, Misheal. Compare Mashal. see HEBREW sha'al see HEBREW Mashal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shaal Definition a place in Asher NASB Translation Mishal (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִשְׁאָל proper name, of a location in Asher (Egyptian Mi-ša'a-ra WMMAs.u.Eur.181); — Joshua 19:26 (ᵐ5 Μαασα, A Μασαψ, ᵐ5L Μασαλ Joshua 21:30 (ᵐ5 Βασελλαν, A Μασααλ, ᵐ5L Μισαλα); = (1.) מָשָׁל 1 Chronicles 6:59 (ᵐ5 Μαασα, A Μασαλ, ᵐ5L Μασιλ). [מִשְׁאָלָה] see שׁאל Topical Lexicon Overview Mishal (also appearing as Misheal or Mashal in parallel passages) is a town situated in the western portion of ancient Israel, remembered chiefly for its inclusion in the territorial allotment to the tribe of Asher and its later designation as a Levitical city for the Gershonite clan. Though mentioned only twice by name in the canonical text (Joshua 19:26; Joshua 21:30), the site illuminates several enduring themes: the faithfulness of the LORD in parceling the land, the integration of priestly ministry throughout Israel, and the strategic placement of witness communities on the northern coastal frontier. Geographical Setting • Located near the Mediterranean coast, the town stood east of Mount Carmel and south of modern-day Acco (Acre). Tribal Allocation to Asher Upon the conquest of Canaan, the tribe of Asher received a ribbon of coastal land celebrated for its olive oil and viticulture (Genesis 49:20). Mishal formed part of that inheritance, symbolizing the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would possess the land (Genesis 15:18-21). The record in Joshua emphasizes that every individual town—including seemingly minor villages like Mishal—was known and apportioned by name, demonstrating divine precision and care. Levitical Entrustment Decades after the initial settlement, Mishal reappears when the Gershonites, one of the three main Levitical clans, are granted four towns from Asher. “From the tribe of Asher they received Mishal, Abdon, Helkath, and Rehob—four cities, along with their pasturelands” (Joshua 21:30-31). Key implications: 1. A priestly presence in a seaport culture—The Levites served as Torah teachers (Deuteronomy 33:10). Their placement in Mishal ensured that a clear voice for the LORD stood amid coastal trade centers rife with Baalistic worship. Historical Backdrop • Northern Israel repeatedly faced pressure from Phoenicia and, later, from Aramean and Assyrian expansion. A faithful enclave in Mishal guarded doctrinal purity at Israel’s frontier. Theological and Pastoral Insights 1. Covenant Faithfulness—Mishal’s dual listing, first in the land allotments and later in the Levitical cities, attests that God’s promises are both territorial and spiritual; He provides for material needs and ensures continual access to truth. Archaeological Considerations Scholarly proposals place Mishal at modern Khirbet Mishal, a ruin roughly ten kilometers south-east of Acre, or at Tell Keisan nearer the Carmel range. Surface pottery and fortifications suggest Late Bronze and early Iron Age occupation, harmonizing with the biblical timeline. While absolute identification is debated, each proposed site confirms a settlement capable of sustaining both agriculture and Levite pasturelands. Lessons for Contemporary Ministry • Plant truth where ideologies mingle—Twenty-first-century believers, like the Gershonites in Mishal, must disciple in marketplaces, universities, and port cities where global ideas converge. Key Biblical References • Tribal allotment: Joshua 19:26 Forms and Transliterations וּמִשְׁאָ֑ל ומשאל מִשְׁאָ֖ל משאל miš’āl miš·’āl mishAl ū·miš·’āl ūmiš’āl umishAlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:26 HEB: וְאַֽלַמֶּ֥לֶךְ וְעַמְעָ֖ד וּמִשְׁאָ֑ל וּפָגַ֤ע בְּכַרְמֶל֙ NAS: and Amad and Mishal; and it reached KJV: and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth INT: and Allammelech and Amad and Mishal reached to Carmel Joshua 21:30 2 Occurrences |
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