Jezreel Valley up close

Israel’s best farmland and frequent war zone

Josiah died here

A 3D-style map of Jezreel Valley up close gives us a better understanding of:

• Why the valley is and always has been Israel's breadbasket
• Why Napoleon called it the perfect battlefield for his kind of warfare: stand, shoot, and die.
• Why King Josiah took his stand against the Egyptian army coming from the north. Think: Spartans at Thermopile.
• Why Judah's wounded King Ahaziah fled in his chariot to the Megiddo fortress to escape Jehu's coup

AI’s view of the Jezreel Valley

“THE PERFECT BATTLEFIELD”

French General Napoleon saw this valley and declared it the perfect battlefield. Perhaps so, if you want two armies charging into each other with sharp objects. There's plenty of room to work up a speedy charge. it's the largest valley in Israel. It stretches out into a triangle about 20 miles by 20 by 12 (32km by 32 by 19).

Bible-time battles

It rests at the foot of the Carmel mounts in the east and the Gilboa mountains in the southwest, where Saul and three of his sons died fighting an overwhelming force of Philistines. Gideon fought off seasonal invaders who made Jezreel they're staging center for raids on farms at harvesttime. Deborah, a prophetess with more courage than the nation's general, led the Israelite army to victory over an invading chariot corps. The general wouldn't go into battle unless she came, too. She took the Israelites up the steep slopes of Mount Tabor, where chariots couldn't go. She waited for a rainstorm, which seems to have trapped the chariots stuck in the mud by a flooding Kishon River. The invading army ran away, on foot.

Jaw-dropping vistas

The Jezreel Valley, also known as the Valley of Megiddo, is a breathtaking expanse nestled in northern Israel. Its lush landscape is adorned with fields of vibrant crops, orchards, and quaint villages. Famous for its historical and biblical significance, the Jezreel Valley has witnessed countless pivotal events. It is often referred to as the site of the ancient city of Megiddo, an archaeological treasure trove showcasing layers of human civilization dating back thousands of years. The valley's strategic location made it a sought-after prize for conquerors and a stage for numerous ancient battles. Written part by AI Edited by Miller

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For more Bible features

• Stephen M. Miller's website and blog
• The Casual English Bible
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