Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Valley of Elah

Geographical place mentioned in the Bible From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Valley of Elahmap
Remove ads
For the archaeological site, see Khirbet Qeiyafa.

The Valley of Elah, Ella Valley ("Valley of the terebinth";[1] from the Hebrew: עמק האלה, romanized: Emeq HaElah), or Wadi es-Sunt (Arabic: وادي السنط), is a long, shallow valley in the Shephelah area of Israel. It is best-known from the Hebrew Bible incident where David defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:2 and 19). It is home to several important archaeological sites, including those identified as the ancient towns of Azekah and Sokho (1 Samuel 17:1). Rising from the valley on its extreme southeast end lies the hilltop ruin Adullam, and on its north lie the ruins of the ancient fortress city of Khirbet Qeiyafa, which is identified with the ancient town of Shaaraim mentioned in 1 Samuel 17:52.

Thumb
Valley of Elah viewed from the top of Tel Azekah

The valley is named after its indigenous trees: in Hebrew after the large and shady terebinth trees (Pistacia terebinthus and P. palaestina), and in Arabic for the white acacia trees (Faidherbia). On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a huge and ancient terebinth, 55 feet (17 m) in height with a trunk 17 feet (5.2 m) in circumference and a canopy at least 75 feet (23 m) in diameter. This tree is notable for being one of the largest terebinths in the area, and marks the valley's upper end.

Thumb
Extension of Elah Valley on its southeastern side, Wadi es-Sur

Since the early 1970s, the valley has also contained a large satellite relay station, with an antenna farm containing some 120 satellite dishes of various sizes. From 2010 to 2014, the region around the valley was believed to be threatened by shale oil extraction through the CCR ground-heating process, with the Green Zionist Alliance (now Aytzim) and the grassroots group Save Adullam[usurped], among others, working to stop exploitation of the region.[2][3][4] The plan was ultimately blocked in 2014 by a zoning committee decision.[5] In July 2019, the Elah Valley came under the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, owing mainly to its historical importance and the desire to curtail the encroaching city limits of Beit Shemesh to its north.[6]

Remove ads

History

In 2009, Professor Yosef Garfinkel discovered a fortified city from the Iron Age II dated sometime between 1050 and 915 BC at Khirbet Qeiyafa, southwest of Jerusalem in the Elah Valley.[7] The fortifications have been said to support the biblical account of the United Monarchy, the theory that Israel in the time of King David at the beginning of Iron Age II was more than simply a tribal chiefdom.[8] Others are skeptical and suggest it might represent either a Judahite or Canaanite fortress.[9]

Thumb
Khirbet Qeiyafa overlooking the Elah Valley
Thumb
The Valley of Elah after the winter rains, Wadi es Sur

In the late 19th century, Claude Conder and Herbert Kitchener described the Elah Valley as being "one of the most fertile districts in Palestine. It is an open flat vale about half a mile across, and covered with corn; a narrow trench runs down the center full of white pebbles worn by the water in winter. Here and there large terebinths grow along its course (Butmet Wâdy es Sûr), and solitary oak trees (Ballûtet Kŭssis). On either side rise the stony hills covered with brushwood and wild growth."[10]

Remove ads

Flora and fauna

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Terebinth (Pistacia atlantica) growing in the Elah Valley

Numerous plant species are native to the Elah Valley, including:

Thumb
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Thumb
Blue lupine in Tel Socho of the Elah Valley
Thumb
Elah Valley, spring of 2010

Animal species native to the Elah Valley include:

Remove ads

See also

References

External links

Gallery

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads
Remove ads