The Five Valleys of the Shephelah Hills

The Shephelah hills are located between the Judean mountains and the Philistine coastal plain. Many seasonal riverbeds pass through here, flowing towards the plain, forming five major east-west oriented valleys. In ancient Israel, the Philistines were constant enemies of the Israelites. The Shephelah hills became a natural transportation route from the Philistine coastal plain into the Judean mountains, and thus a frequent battleground between the Israelites and the Philistines. These valleys provided easy access into the Judean highlands, making it very difficult to prevent the Philistines from invading along these valleys.

These five valleys, from north to south, are:

1、Aijalon Valley: The upper reaches of the Aijalon Valley have two branch valleys. The northern branch leads to the central Benjamin plateau, and the southern branch leads to Jerusalem. Gezer guards the western entrance to the Aijalon Valley, while Upper Beth Horon and Lower Beth Horon are two important towns leading to Benjamin. Joshua 10:12: “On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua prayed to the LORD in the sight of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.'”

2、Sorek Valley: The Sorek Valley is the most gentle of the five valleys, making it the preferred route into the Judean mountains, leading towards Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Sorek Valley is where Samson fought against the Philistines.

3、Elah Valley: This is a crucial passage leading to Hebron and Bethlehem. Azekah guards the western entrance to the Elah Valley. The Elah Valley is where David fought his decisive battle with Goliath the giant.

4、Guvrin Valley: The Guvrin Valley leads to Hebron but is less frequently used.

5、Lachish Valley: The Lachish Valley provides access to Lachish and other important cities in the southern Judean mountains.