Original Word: יְשָׁנָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Yshanah
Pronunciation: yeh-shaw-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yesh-aw-naw')
KJV: Jeshanah
NASB: Jeshanah
Word Origin: [feminine of H3465 (יָשָׁן - old)]

1. Jeshanah, a place in Israel

Jeshanah

Feminine of yashan; Jeshanah, a place in Palestine -- Jeshanah.

see HEBREW yashan

Word Origin
fem. of yashan
Definition
a city near Bethel
NASB Translation
Jeshanah (1).

יְשָׁנָה proper name, of a location town on southern border of Northern Israel, near Bethel, 2 Chronicles 13:19; so read also 1 Samuel 7:12 for ᵑ0 הַשֵּׁן We Dr Klo Kit Bu; modern `Ain Siniya, 5 miles north of Beitun, ClGann^{J As Avr.-Juin, 1870, 490-501} Soc^{ZPV i, 1878, 41} Buhl^{Geogr. § 95, p. 173}.

Meaning and Identity

Jeshanah denotes “the old (place),” a title that in Scripture functions both as a fortified town in the Northern Kingdom and as one of the principal gates in the walls of Jerusalem after the exile. Though appearing only twice in the Old Testament, the name’s linkage with strategic fortifications highlights the enduring value of ancient foundations in Israel’s national and spiritual life.

Occurrences in Scripture

• 2 Chronicles 13:19 – Abijah’s campaign against Jeroboam.
• Nehemiah 12:39 – The circuit of thanksgiving choirs on the rebuilt wall.

Historical Setting

1. Abijah’s Recovery of Territory (2 Chronicles 13:19)

During the divided-kingdom era, King Abijah of Judah pressed northward after the LORD granted him victory at Mount Zemaraim. “Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some towns from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their villages” (2 Chronicles 13:19). Jeshanah lay on the main ridge route just north of Bethel, guarding access to the central highlands. Its recapture signaled a momentary reassertion of Davidic authority over ancestral territory and underscored God’s covenant faithfulness to the house of Judah despite national fragmentation.

2. The Jeshanah (Old) Gate in Nehemiah’s Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:39)

A century and a half after the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah completed Jerusalem’s walls. In the dedication ceremony two choirs processed in opposite directions. One “passed over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate” (Nehemiah 12:39). The Jeshanah Gate—literally “Old Gate”—probably stood on the north wall near the earlier “Middle Gate” (compare Jeremiah 39:3). Its designation preserved the memory of pre-exilic architecture, thus binding the restored community to its historic roots.

Geographical Notes

• Jeshanah the town is usually placed at modern ʿAin Sînîa, about twelve kilometers north of Bethel, commanding a fertile valley and an intersection of north–south and east–west roads.
• The Jeshanah Gate marked an entry point into Jerusalem’s commercial quarter, facing the main approach from Samaria; its strategic location explains the detailed attention given to its repair in Nehemiah 3:6 (where it is also called the Old Gate).

Theological and Ministry Significance

1. Continuity of Covenant History

Both contexts stress continuity: Abijah reclaimed what earlier belonged to David and Solomon; Nehemiah restored what Nebuchadnezzar destroyed. Jeshanah reminds readers that the Lord’s plans span generations, and that ancient promises remain reliable anchors for present obedience.

2. Restoration through Worship and Warfare

Abijah’s victory came “because they relied on the LORD” (2 Chronicles 13:18). Nehemiah’s walls were finished “because the people had a mind to work” and because “the good hand of my God was upon me” (Nehemiah 4:6; 2:18). Whether in conflict or construction, reliance on divine help secures lasting results.

3. Guarding the “Old Paths”

The Old Gate symbolizes the safeguarding of foundational truths (compare Jeremiah 6:16). Ministry today must defend historic doctrine while welcoming repentant sinners into the city of God. Just as the gate faced outward to potential allies and adversaries, so the church must engage culture without compromising the gospel’s timeless integrity.

4. Leadership that Honors Heritage

Abijah, though imperfect, honored the Davidic covenant; Nehemiah honored Mosaic law and prophetic promises. Effective leaders recognize that renewal is not novelty for novelty’s sake but faithful return to God’s revealed pattern. Jeshanah—“old”—thus becomes a call to cherish inherited wisdom while pressing forward in fresh obedience.

Summary

Jeshanah’s two appearances frame a narrative arc from divided-kingdom strife to post-exilic restoration. Each mention underscores strategic defense, covenant continuity, and the necessity of godly leadership. The name’s very meaning urges believers to value and defend the “old” works of God, confident that what He established He is also able to renew.

הַיְשָׁנָ֜ה הישנה יְשָׁנָ֖ה ישנה hay·šā·nāh hayšānāh hayshaNah yə·šā·nāh yəšānāh yeshaNahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts