The Hebrew word Mishʼâl, represented by H4861, is the name of a place in Palestine. Based on a root word meaning "request," it appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its biblical usage is exclusively as a proper noun for a town, spelled as both Misheal and Mishal.
The two appearances of H4861 occur in the book of Joshua during the allotment of the Promised Land. First, it is listed as Misheal, a town on the border of the territory assigned to the tribe of Asher. This boundary "reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath" Joshua 19:26. Later, the same location, now spelled Mishal, is identified as one of the cities given by the tribe of Asher to the Levites, specifically designated "with her suburbs" Joshua 21:30.
Several related words help establish the context of Mishal's location and purpose:
- H836 ʼÂshêr (happy): This is the tribe from whose territory Mishal was given Joshua 21:30. The name represents one of Jacob's sons and the tribe descended from him.
- H4294 maṭṭeh (tribe): This word, also meaning a rod or staff, is used to designate the "tribe of Asher" as the source of the land for Mishal Joshua 21:30.
- H4054 migrâsh (suburb): This term describes the open lands surrounding the city that were included in the allotment to the Levites, indicating that they were given the city and its associated pastures Joshua 21:30.
- H3760 Karmel (fruitful field): A significant landmark used to define the western reach of Asher's border, in which Mishal was located Joshua 19:26.
The significance of H4861 is rooted in its role within the narrative of Israel's settlement.
- Tribal Inheritance: Mishal is a key geographical marker that helps define the borders of the land promised to the tribe of Asher Joshua 19:26. Its inclusion in the list solidifies the boundaries of the tribal allotment.
- Provision for the Levites: As a Levitical city, Mishal represents the fulfillment of God's command to provide for the priestly tribe, which was not given a tribal land inheritance of its own but was instead given cities within the other tribes' territories Joshua 21:30.
- Geographical Anchor: By being located on a border that "reacheth" H6293 a major landmark like Carmel H3760, Mishal helps ground the biblical account of the conquest and settlement in a specific, identifiable geography.
In summary, H4861 is a specific place name, Mishal or Misheal, with a focused but important role in Scripture. It appears exclusively in the context of the division of Canaan, serving as both a border town for the tribe of Asher and as a designated city for the Levites. Though mentioned only twice, it functions as a critical detail in the historical and geographical record of Israel's inheritance of the land.
TRV