The Shephlah

We will spend the third day of our 14 day trip to the Holy Land in May 2018 in the shephelah, a series of low hills which connects the coast of Israel to the Judean Highlands. This region contains important transportation hubs and has been one of the most hotly contested regions in Israel.

A map of the Shephiah region of Israel

The word  שְׁפֵלָה, Shephlah, sephela, saphela or shefla comes from the word low, and thus indicates low or sinking lands. This unique landform exists from the east of Tel Aviv and the Plain of Sharon and ends north of the Negev. The Shephlah rises from the coastal plain to the Judean highlands. The rumpled land of this area contains low hills and valleys between the hills.

Model of the Shfela in Elah Valley where David defeated Goliath

Throughout the history of the promised land people have traversed the valleys in order to reach the central highlands. Today the roads of Israel continue to follow the Ayalon Valley, Sorek Valley, Elah Valley, Beth Gurvin Valley and the Lachish Valley. We will visit sites in each of the five major routes on our the third day of our 14 day trip to the Holy Land.

Tel Gezer in Israel

At the head of each of the valleys there is a high hill upon which a fortified city has been built. At the head of the Ayalon Valley this is the city of Gezer. At the top of the road are the towns of Yalu and Emmaus. The road runs from Jaffa across the coastal plain, up the Ayalon Valley and the Beit Horon ascent to Jerusalem. The route is still popular today with Israel Highway 1 using this route from Jerusalem past Ben Gurion Airport to Jaffa.

Monoliths at Tel Gezer

The Ayalon Valley is a place of much history. This is the place where the sun stood still during Joshua’s conquest of the land. The Amarna letters written to Pharaohs Akhenaten and Tutankhamun menton the town of Ayalon. Pharaoh Sheshonk I attacked the Amorites in this area in the 10th century BC. King Saul and the Maccabees also fought in this valley. The state of Israel fought several major battles for the Ayalon Valley in the twentieth century.

Beit Shemesh where the Ark was returned to Israel

The Sorek Valley extends from Ekron on the coastal plain to Eshtol at the top of the valley. The town of Beit Shemesh (recorded in 1 Samuel 6) is in at a junction where the valley narrows. The Sorek Valley was home to Samson and Delilah. The main road to Jerusalem ran through this valley in the early nineteenth century. The railroad from Jaffa to Jerusalem still runs through the Sorek Valley.

The place where David fought Goliath

The Elah or terebinth Valley is a known for its many oak trees and great fertility. The lower end of the valley is protected by the fortress town of Gath, which is also the hometown of Goliath. The valley runs past Azekah and Socoh to Adullam. David fought Goliath in this valley, picking up five smooth stones from Elah creek. We will visit Khirbet Qeiyafa while in visiting Elah Valley.

Inside the Bell Caves

The Guvrin Valley leading from Gaza to Hebron was one of the region's most important trade routes. Joshua fought many battles in this valley, King Rehoboam made Maresha into a fortress and later Micah the prophet preached in the area. After Israel fell to Nebuchadnezzar many Edomites migrated to Guvrin Valley and made it a second homeland which was later called Idumea. King Herod of the New Testament ties to this region.

View from the top of Tel Lackish 

Lachish sits to the south of the Gurvin Valley and protects a secondary road from Gaza througt the Shephlah. The city was a major communication center which served as a beacon which sent signals to Azekah and other hilltop locations. Because of its importance it was made into a royal city for Rehoboam and was later conquered by Nebuchadnezzar on his way to Jerusalem.

Please join us on a tour of Israel in May 2018

On a tour of Israel in May 2018 we will take a day to experience sites within the Shephliah and tell stories out of Israel’s past. Please take time to sign up to travel with us.