Valley of Elah

Valley of Elah - terebinth or oak - Where the Israelites were encamped when David killed Goliath . (1 Sam. 17:2, 19) It was near Shochoh in Tribe of Judah and Azekah . (17:1) It is the modern Wady es-Sunt, i.e., "valley of the acacia." On the west side of the valley, near Shochoh, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind known as the 'terebinth of Wady Sur,' 55 feet in height, its trunk 17 feet in circumference, and the breadth of its shade no less than 75 feet. It marks the upper end of the valley, and forms a noted object, being one of the largest terebinths in Palestine .

Valley of Elah viewed from the top of Tel Azeka. The Valley of Elah , Ella Valley , "the valley of the terebinth " ( Emek HaElah ) ( Arabic Wadi es-Sunt ), so called after the large and shady terebinth trees ( Pistacia atlantica ) which are indigenous to its parts, and best known as the place described in the Bible where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath ( 1 Sam. 17:2, 19). It was near Azekah and Socho (17:1). On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind, 55 feet in height, its trunk 17 feet in circumference, and the breadth of its shade no less than 75 feet. It marks the upper end of the valley, and forms a noted object, being one of the largest terebinths in the area. Rising up from the valley on its extreme south-east end lies the hilltop ruin, Adullam . Elah Valley on its southeastern side The Valley of Elah has gained new importance as a possible point of support for the argument that Israel was more than a tribal chiefdom in the time of King David. At Khirbet Qeiyafa , southwest of Jerusalem in the Elah Valley, Prof. Yosef Garfinkel has discovered a fortified city from the Iron Age IIa dated sometime between 1050 and 915 BC. The fortifications have been said to support the biblical account of the United Monarchy at the beginning of Iron Age II. Others are sceptical, and suggest it might represent either a Judahite or Canaanite fortress. The Valley of Elah after the winter rains Elah Valley, spring of 2010 In the late 19th century, Conder and 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 centre 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 Kussis ). On either side rise the stony hills covered with brushwood and wild growth." Today the valley is threatened by shale oil extraction through the CCR ground-heating process , with the Green Zionist Alliance and the grassroots group Save Adullam , among others, working to stop shale oil extraction in the region. Kitchener, The Survey of Western Palestine , vol.

Geographical place mentioned in the Bible For the archaeological site, see Khirbet Qeiyafa . Valley of Elah viewed from the top of Tel Azeka The Valley of Elah or Ella Valley ("the valley of the terebinth "; Emek HaElah ; , Wadi es-Sunt ) is a long, shallow valley in Israel and the West Bank best known as the place described in the Old Testament where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17:2, 19). It is home to several important archaeological sites, including those identified as the ancient towns of Azekah and Socho (17:1). Rising up 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 . The valley is named after the large and shady terebinth trees ( Pistacia atlantica ) which are indigenous to it. On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind, 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 upper end of the valley. 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 and the grassroots group Save Adullam , among others, working to stop exploitation of the region. The plan was ultimately blocked in 2014 by a zoning committee decision. In July 2019, the Elah Valley came under the Israel Nature and Parks Authority , owing largely to its historical importance and the desire to curtail the encroaching city limits of Beit Shemesh to its north.

Geographical place mentioned in the Bible For the archaeological site, see Khirbet Qeiyafa . Valley of Elah viewed from the top of Tel Azekah The Valley of Elah or Ella Valley ("the valley of the terebinth "; from the Emek HaElah ), called in , Wadi es-Sunt , is a long, shallow valley in Israel and the West Bank best known as the place described in the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament of Christianity ) where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17:2 ; 1 Samuel 17:19 ). It is home to several important archaeological sites, including those identified as the ancient towns of Azekah and Socho ( 1 Samuel 17:1 ). Rising up 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 Sha'araim ( 1 Samuel 17:52 ). The valley is named after the large and shady terebinth trees ( Pistacia atlantica ) which are indigenous to it. On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind, 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 upper end of the valley. 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 and the grassroots group Save Adullam , among others, working to stop exploitation of the region. The plan was ultimately blocked in 2014 by a zoning committee decision. In July 2019, the Elah Valley came under the Israel Nature and Parks Authority , owing largely to its historical importance and the desire to curtail the encroaching city limits of Beit Shemesh to its north.

Geographical place mentioned in the Bible For the archaeological site, see Khirbet Qeiyafa . Valley of Elah viewed from the top of Tel Azekah The Valley of Elah , Ella Valley ("Valley of the terebinth "; 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. 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. 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 , among others, working to stop exploitation of the region. The plan was ultimately blocked in 2014 by a zoning committee decision. 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.