Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Jabneel" is derived from the Hebrew "יַבְנְאֵל" (Yavne'el), which is often interpreted to mean "God causes to build" or "God builds." This reflects the city's historical and theological significance as a place established under divine providence.

Biblical References:
Jabneel is mentioned in the Old Testament in the context of territorial boundaries and inheritance among the tribes of Israel. It appears in two primary passages:

1. Joshua 15:11 : "The border then went to the side of Ekron northward, and the border curved to Shikkeron and continued to Mount Baalah and went to Jabneel, and ended at the sea." In this passage, Jabneel is described as part of the boundary of the tribe of Judah. It is situated near the Mediterranean Sea, indicating its strategic importance.

2. Joshua 19:33 : "Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan." Here, Jabneel is mentioned as a boundary marker for the tribe of Naphtali, suggesting that there may have been more than one location with this name or that the boundaries shifted over time.

Historical and Geographical Context:
Jabneel, identified with the modern site of Yavne, was a significant city in ancient Israel. It was located in the Shephelah, the lowland region between the coastal plain and the Judean hills. Its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea made it a vital location for trade and military strategy.

During the period of the Judges and the monarchy, Jabneel was a fortified city. Its strategic location made it a point of contention during various military campaigns. The city was later known as Jamnia in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, playing a crucial role in Jewish history, particularly after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, when it became a center of Jewish learning.

Theological Significance:
Jabneel's mention in the context of tribal boundaries underscores the importance of land inheritance in the biblical narrative. The delineation of land was not merely a matter of geography but was deeply tied to the covenantal promises made by God to the patriarchs. The land was a tangible expression of God's faithfulness and provision for His people.

In the broader biblical narrative, cities like Jabneel serve as reminders of the Israelites' journey from nomadic life to settled existence in the Promised Land. They reflect the fulfillment of God's promises and the establishment of Israel as a nation under His guidance.

Archaeological Insights:
Archaeological excavations at Yavne have uncovered remains from various periods, including the Iron Age, which corresponds to the biblical era. These findings provide insights into the city's layout, fortifications, and daily life, corroborating its historical significance as described in the biblical text.

Conclusion:
While Jabneel is not one of the most frequently mentioned locations in the Bible, its role as a boundary marker and its historical significance in later Jewish history highlight its importance in the biblical and post-biblical narrative.Jabneel

building of God

Jabneel

(building of God).

1. One of the points on the northern boundary of Judah, not quite at the sea, though near it. (Joshua 15:11) There is no sign, however, of its ever having been occupied by Judah. Josephus attributes it to the Danites. There was a constant struggle going on between that tribe and the Philistines for the possession of all the places in the lowland plains, and it is not surprising that the next time we meet with Jabneel it should be in the hands of the latter. (2 Chronicles 26:6) Uzziah dispossessed them of it and demolished its fortifications. Called also JABNEH. At the time of the fall of Jerusalem, Jabneh was one of the most populous places of Judea. The modern village of Yebna , more accurately Ibna , stands about two miles from the sea, on a slight eminence just south of the Nahr Rubin .
2. One of the landmarks on the boundary of Naphtali, (Joshua 19:33) in upper Galilee.

Built by God.

(1.) A town in the north boundary of Judah (Joshua 15:11), called afterwards by the Greeks Jamnia, the modern Yebna, 11 miles south of Jaffa. After the fall of Jerusalem (A.D. 70), it became one of the most populous cities of Judea, and the seat of a celebrated school.

(2.) A town on the border of Naphtali (Joshua 19:33). Its later name was Kefr Yemmah, "the village by the sea," on the south shore of Lake Merom.

JABNEEL; JABNEH

jab'-ne-el, jab'-ne (yabhne'el, "God is builder"; Septuagint Lebna, Swete reads Lemna; the Apocrypha has Iamnia, Iamneia):

(1) A town on the northern border of the land assigned to Judah, near the western sea, mentioned in connection with Ekron (Joshua 15:11). The place is now represented by the modern village of Yebna which stands upon a hill a little to the South of the Nahr Rubin, about 12 or 13 miles South of Jaffa, on the road from there to Askelon, and about 4 miles from the sea. It had a port, now called Mina Rubin, a short distance South of the mouth of the river, some remains of which still exist. Its harbor was superior to that of Jaffa (PEFS, 1875, 167-68). It does not occur in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament except in the passage mentioned, but it appears under the form "Jabneh" (yabhneh) in 2 Chronicles 26:6, as is evident from the mention of Gath and Ashdod in connection with it. The Septuagint reads Gemna (Jabneh) where the Hebrew reads wa-yammah, "even unto the sea," in Joshua 15:46, where Ekron and Ashdod and other cities and villages are mentioned as belonging to Judah's inheritance. Josephus (Ant., V, i, 22) assigns it to the tribe of Dan. We have no mention of its being captured by Joshua or occupied by Judah until the reign of Uzziah who captured it and demolished its wall, in connection with his war upon the Philistines (2 Chronicles 26:6). The position of Jabneel was strong and was the scene of many contests, both in the period of the monarchy and that of the Maccabees. It is mentioned frequently in the account of the wars of the latter with the Syrians. It was garrisoned by the Seleucid kings, and served as a base for raiding the territory of Judah. When Judas Maccabeus defeated Gorgias and the Syrians he pursued them to the plains of Jabneel, but did not take the fortress (1 Maccabees 4:15). Gorgias was there attacked by the Jewish generals Joseph and Azarias, contrary to Judas' orders, who were repulsed with loss (1 Maccabees 5:56-60; Josephus, Ant, XII, viii, 6). Apollonius occupied it for King Demetrius (1 Maccabees 10:69); and Cendebeus for Antiochus, and from there harassed the Jews (1 Maccabees 15:40). Judas burned the port and navy of Jabneel (2 Maccabees 12:8-9). It was taken by Simon in 142 B.C. (Josephus, Ant, XIII, vi, 7; BJ, I, ii, 2), together with Gazara and Joppa, but was restored to its inhabitants by Pompey in 62 B.C. (Ant., XIV, iv, 4), and was rebuilt by Gabinius in 57 B.C. (BJ, I, viii, 4). It was restored to the Jews by Augustus in 30 A.D. Herod gave it to his sister Salome and she bequeathed it to Julia, the wife of Augustus (Ant., XVIII, ii, 2; BJ, II, ix, 1). The town and region were prosperous in Roman times, and when Jerusalem was besieged by Titus the Sanhedrin removed to Jabneel, and it afterward became the seat of a great rabbinical school (Milman, History of the Jews, II, 411-12), but was suppressed in the persecution under Hadrian. Antonius allowed it to be revived, but it was again suppressed because of hostile language on the part of the rabbis (ibid., 451-52). The Crusaders built there the castle of Ibelin, supposing it to be the site of Gath. It was occupied by the Saracens, and various inscriptions in Arabic of the 13th and 14th centuries have been found there (SWP, II, 441-42).

(2) A town of Naphtali mentioned in Joshua 19:33, and supposed to be the site of the modern Yemma, Southwest of the sea of Galilee (SWP, I, 365). It is the Kefr Yama of the Talmud

H. Porter

2995. Yabneel -- "El causes to build," two cities in Isr.
... "El causes to build," two cities in Isr. Transliteration: Yabneel Phonetic Spelling:
(yab-neh-ale') Short Definition: Jabneel. ... NASB Word Usage Jabneel (2). ...
/hebrew/2995.htm - 6kJabneel (2 Occurrences)
... Its later name was Kefr Yemmah, "the village by the sea," on the south shore of
Lake Merom. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JABNEEL; JABNEH. ...
/j/jabneel.htm - 11k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Building, (2 Chronicles 26:6), identical with Jabneel
(Joshua 15:11). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JABNEEL; JABNEH. ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Shikkeron (1 Occurrence)
... the King James Version Shicron): A place mentioned in Joshua 15:11 as being on the
northern border of Judah, between Ekron and Baalah, Jabneel being beyond ...
/s/shikkeron.htm - 7k

Outgoings (21 Occurrences)
... unto the side of Ekron northward, and the border hath been marked out 'to' Shicron,
and hath passed over to mount Baalah, and gone out 'to' Jabneel; and the ...
/o/outgoings.htm - 12k

Lakkum (1 Occurrence)
... lak'-um (laqqum; the King James Version, Lakum): A town on the border of Naphtali,
named with Adami, Nekeb and Jabneel, apparently nearer the Jordan (Joshua 19 ...
/l/lakkum.htm - 7k

Ending (22 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:11 And out to the side of Ekron to the north: then it is marked out to
Shikkeron and on to Mount Baalah, ending at Jabneel; the end of the line is at ...
/e/ending.htm - 13k

Goings (42 Occurrences)
... the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to
Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the ...
/g/goings.htm - 22k

Ended (146 Occurrences)
... the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to
Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the ...
/e/ended.htm - 37k

Zaanannim (2 Occurrences)
... Zaanannim (2 Occurrences). Joshua 19:33 Their border was from Heleph, from the oak
in Zaanannim, Adaminekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan. ...
/z/zaanannim.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus