Original Word: מָשָׁל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Mashal
Pronunciation: mah-SHAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-shawl')
KJV: Mashal
NASB: Mashal
Word Origin: [for H4861 (מִשׁאָל - Mishal)]

1. Mashal, a place in Israel

Mashal

For Mish'al; Mashal, a place in Palestine -- Mashal.

see HEBREW Mish'al

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a place in Asher (the same as NH4861)
NASB Translation
Mashal (1).

I. מָשָׁל proper name, of a location see מִשְׁאָל.

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 6:74: “From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal, Abdon, Hukok, and Rehob.”

The parallel catalogue in Joshua 21:30 spells the same town “Mishal,” confirming that both forms refer to a single settlement assigned to the Gershonite Levites.

Geographical Setting

Mashal lay inside the coastal allotment of the tribe of Asher, probably between modern Akko (Acre) and the Galilean foothills. Most scholars favor the tell known as Khirbet Mishal (Tel Abu Seifa) or a nearby site east of the Mediterranean shoreline and south-southeast of modern Nahariya. The location’s proximity to major trade routes would have exposed the inhabitants to diverse cultures while still anchoring them within the covenant land.

Levitical Allocation and Covenant Pattern

Mashal belonged to the third group of Levitical cities—those given to the Gershonites (Numbers 3:21-26; Joshua 21:6). By situating Levites throughout the tribes, the Lord ensured that His law, worship, and wisdom were accessible “in every place where I cause My name to dwell” (cf. Deuteronomy 12:11). Mashal’s inclusion in the list underscores the completeness of God’s provision: even the peripheral tribe of Asher received dedicated ministers of the word and guardians of the sanctuary furniture the Gershonites transported in the wilderness era.

Priestly Ministry at Mashal

As a Levitical town, Mashal would have contained pasturelands (“suburbs,” Joshua 21:12) sufficient for flocks that supported the priestly families. Within its gates Scripture would have been read, legal disputes adjudicated, and worshippers instructed in the statutes of the Lord (Deuteronomy 33:10). The Levites’ presence illustrated the principle that spiritual leadership must dwell among the people rather than remain centralized in one shrine.

Typological and Theological Themes

1. Scattering with Purpose: Jacob’s prophecy that Levi would be “scattered in Israel” (Genesis 49:7) is redeemed in towns like Mashal, where dispersion becomes a means of blessing.
2. Holiness in Ordinary Life: The mingling of sacred vocation with agrarian routine models the New Testament ideal of a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9), living holy lives amid daily labor.
3. Unity amid Diversity: By distributing Levitical teaching through border territories such as Asher, the Lord knit the tribes together around a shared covenant identity that transcended geography.

Historical and Archaeological Notes

Surface pottery and fortification remains at Khirbet Mishal align with Iron Age occupation, matching the period of the Judges and United Monarchy. Although no explicit cultic artifacts have been recovered, the site’s size and agricultural terraces are consistent with a modest Levitical town whose economic base was pastoral rather than commercial.

Practical Reflections for Ministry Today

• Strategic Placement: Just as Mashal brought sound teaching to a fringe tribe, modern ministry should be intentional about spiritually underserved regions.
• Integration of Work and Worship: The Gershonite pattern affirms that sacred service need not exclude ordinary vocations but can sanctify them.
• Trust in Covenant Faithfulness: The single biblical mention of Mashal reminds readers that even seemingly obscure places and people are woven into the redemptive storyline, encouraging believers laboring in anonymity.

Mashal, though briefly cited, powerfully illustrates the Lord’s meticulous care for His people, the centrality of teaching within community life, and the enduring call for God’s servants to permeate every corner of the land with truth and grace.

מָשָׁ֖ל משל mā·šāl māšāl maShalInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts