Bible Questions and Answer

The Shephelah, meaning "lowland," is the region of low, rolling hills between the flat coastal plain along the Mediterranean and the higher hill country of Judah. It was a buffer zone between Israel and the Philistines, and many battles were fought there. Several valleys cut through it from the coast toward Jerusalem, and whoever controlled them controlled the approaches to the capital. The Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath, the Sorek Valley, where Samson met Delilah, and the Aijalon Valley are all in the Shephelah. Important cities there included Lachish, Gezer, Beth Shemesh, Azekah and Mareshah. The prophet Micah came from Moresheth Gath in the Shephelah. The region was good for olive trees and sycamore-fig trees. First Kings 10 says Solomon made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Today the Shephelah is a beautiful area of vineyards, forests and archaeological parks between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.