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Valley of Elah

Coordinates:31°41′25.10″N34°57′07.70″E/ 31.6903056°N 34.9521389°E/31.6903056; 34.9521389
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For the archaeological site, seeKhirbet Qeiyafa.
Valley of Elah viewed from the top ofTel Azekah

TheValley of Elah,Ella Valley( "the valley of theterebinth";[1]from theHebrew:עמק האלה‎Emek HaElah), orWadi es-Sunt(Arabic:وادي السنط), is a long, shallow valley in theShephelaharea of Israel, best known from theHebrew Bibleas the place whereDaviddefeatedGoliath(1 Samuel 17:2;1 Samuel 17:19). It is home to several important archaeological sites, including those identified as the ancient towns ofAzekahandSocho(1 Samuel 17:1). Rising up from the valley on its extreme southeast end lies the hilltop ruinAdullam,and on its north lie the ruins of the ancient fortress city ofKhirbet Qeiyafa,which is identified with the ancient town of Sha'araim (1 Samuel 17:52).

The valley is named after its indigenous trees - in Hebrew after the large and shadyterebinthtrees (Pistacia atlantica,elah), and in Arabic after the white acacia trees (Acacia albida,sunt). On the west side of the valley, near Socho, there is a very large and ancient terebinth tree, 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 largesatelliterelay station,with anantenna farmcontaining some 120satellite dishesof various sizes. From 2010 to 2014, the region around the valley was believed to be threatened byshale oil extraction through the CCR ground-heating process,with theGreen Zionist Allianceand the grassroots groupSave Adullam,among others, working to stop exploitation of the region.[2][3][4]The plan was ultimately blocked in 2014 bya zoning committee decision.In July 2019, the Elah Valley came under theIsrael Nature and Parks Authority,owing largely to its historical importance and the desire to curtail the encroaching city limits ofBeit Shemeshto its north.[5]

History

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In 2009, ProfessorYosef Garfinkeldiscovered a fortified city from theIron Age IIdated sometime between 1050 and 915 BC atKhirbet Qeiyafa,southwest ofJerusalemin the Elah Valley.[6]The fortifications have been said to support the biblical account of theUnited 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.[7]Others are skeptical and suggest it might represent either aJudahiteorCanaanitefortress.[8]

Khirbet Qeiyafaoverlooking the Elah Valley
The Valley of Elah after the winter rains,Wadi es Sur

In the late 19th century,Claude ConderandHerbert Kitchenerdescribed 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 largeterebinthsgrow along its course (Butmet Wâdy es Sûr), and solitaryoak trees(Ballûtet Kŭssis). On either side rise the stony hills covered with brushwood and wild growth. "[9]

Flora and fauna

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Terebinth (Pistacia atlantica) growing in the Elah Valley

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

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

Animal species native to the Elah Valley include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^Elah,Langenscheidt's Hebrew Dictionary,Dr Karl Feyerabend
  2. ^Krantz, David (1 May 2011)."Israel: The New Saudi Arabia?".Jewcology.
  3. ^Cheslow, Daniella (18 Dec 2011)."Shale oil project raises hackles in Israel".AFP. Archived fromthe originalon February 5, 2012.
  4. ^Laylin, Tafline (5 March 2013)."Saudi Turns to Solar, Israel Stuck on Shale".Green Prophet.
  5. ^Rubin, Yuval, ed. (2019). "The Elah Valley Declared a National Park".Bakitzur - Mateh Yehuda Regional Council and Jerusalem Area(in Hebrew) (509). Tzur Hadassah: Rubin Publishers: 10.(25 July 2019)
  6. ^“Newly Discovered: A Fortified City from King David’s Time,” Biblical Archaeology Review 35.1 (2009): 38, 40–43.[1]
  7. ^Govier, Gordon "Archaeology: What an Ancient Hebrew Note Might Mean"Christianity Today1/18/2010[2]
  8. ^Julia Fridman,'Crying King David: Are the ruins found in Israel really his palace?,'atHaaretz,26 August 2013.
  9. ^C.R. Conder & H.H. Kitchener,The Survey of Western Palestine,vol. III, London 1883, p. 298
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Wikimedia Commons has media related toValley of Elah.
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  • Panoramic view of Elah Valley and Neve Michael as seen from atop Moshav Aderet
    Panoramic view of Elah Valley andNeve Michaelas seen from atop MoshavAderet
  • The Valley of Elah, near Adullam
    The Valley of Elah, nearAdullam
  • Elah Valley as seen from atop of Tel Socho
    Elah Valley as seen from atop ofTel Socho
  • View of Elah Valley, looking east from atop of Tel Socho
    View of Elah Valley, looking east from atop of Tel Socho
  • Elah Valley, en route to Tel Socho
    Elah Valley, en route to Tel Socho
  • Elah valley in Spring, with ripening grain
    Elah valley in Spring, with ripening grain
  • Crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria)
    Crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria)
  • Pistacia atlantica, from which the valley takes its name
    Pistacia atlantica,from which the valley takes its name
  • Beneath the shady boughs of a Persian turpentine tree (Pistacia atlantica) in the Elah valley
    Beneath the shady boughs of a Persian turpentine tree (Pistacia atlantica) in the Elah valley
  • Asphodel in blossom, in the Elah Valley
    Asphodelin blossom, in the Elah Valley

31°41′25.10″N34°57′07.70″E/ 31.6903056°N 34.9521389°E/31.6903056; 34.9521389

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