{"id":89274,"date":"2026-01-28T06:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T11:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=89274"},"modified":"2026-01-28T08:17:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:17:52","slug":"what-is-the-shephelah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/what-is-the-shephelah\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Shephelah?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_89276\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/what-is-the-shephelah\/attachment\/looking-out-over-the-elah-valley-from-on-top-of-tel-azekah-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer-bas_\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89276\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89276\" class=\"wp-image-89276 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-2048x1536.jpg.avif 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Looking-out-over-the-Elah-Valley-from-on-top-of-Tel-Azekah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-2048x1536.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89276\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking out over the Elah Valley from on top of Tel Azekah. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Shephelah, also known as the Judean Foothills, is one of many geographic regions mentioned in the Bible. However, for those who have never visited the Holy Land, it is a place that can be hard to picture. So, what is the Shephelah?<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t<div id=\"mailing_list_ebook_page\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class='gravity_form_mailing_list'>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"downloadFormSec esolshortwrap\">\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-3 mb-4 mb-md-0\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-src='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/frank-moore-cross.jpg' class='esolsetnewimg smush-dimensions lazyload' width='200' style='--smush-image-width: 200px; --smush-image-aspect-ratio: 200\/259;' src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg=='>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-9 col-sm-9\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FREE ebook: <strong>Frank Moore Cross: Conversations with a Bible Scholar<\/strong>.  Download now.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 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*\/\n<\/script>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<!-- download link -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"eBook_download_link\" name=\"eBook_download_link\">\n\n\t\t\t<button onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/frank_moore_cross_conversations_with_a_bible_scholar.pdf'\">DOWNLOAD EBOOK<\/button>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_89290\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/what-is-the-shephelah\/attachment\/shephelah\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89290\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89290\" class=\"wp-image-89290 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-223x300.png.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"336\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-223x299.png.avif 223w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-763x1024.png.avif 763w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-768x1031.png.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-1144x1536.png.avif 1144w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-1525x2048.png.avif 1525w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-80x108.png.avif 80w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Shephelah-446x598.png.avif 446w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Shephelah.png 1871w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 250px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 250\/336;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-223x300.png&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-223x299.png 223w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-763x1024.png 763w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-768x1031.png 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-1144x1536.png 1144w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-1525x2048.png 1525w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-80x108.png 80w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah-446x598.png 446w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Shephelah.png 1871w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89290\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of the Holy Land during the Iron Age, with the Shephelah marked in orange. <em>Courtesy BAS <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Shephelah is a transition zone between the Judean Highlands in the east\u2014the area of Jerusalem and Hebron\u2014and the coastal plain in the west. Consisting of gently rolling hills, the fertile Shephelah includes important biblical cities and towns like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/daily-life-and-practice\/lachish-temple-sheds-new-light-on-canaanite-religion\/\">Lachish<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/the-other-side-of-beth-shemesh\/\">Beth Shemesh<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-sites\/canaanite-azekah\/\">Azekah<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/bas-onsite\/onsite_tel_gezer\/\">Gezer<\/a>. Within the Shephelah, there are also other important biblical places, like the Elah Valley, where David fought Goliath. Indeed, the entire area is divided by a series of valleys with seasonal streams.<\/p>\n<p>With so many biblical sites, it would be easy to mistake the Shephelah for a large area, but in fact, it is only a small strip of land, roughly 35 miles long and 8 miles wide. Of the southern Levant\u2019s main geographic zones, the Shephelah is one of the smallest. This did not stop it, however, from playing a critical role in the Bible, especially during the period of the Kingdom of Judah (c. 1000\u2013586 BCE). From the establishment of David\u2019s kingdom until the conquest of the region by the Assyrians and then Babylonians, the Shephelah was the border between the Kingdom of Judah and the Philistine city-states of the coastal plain. Many of the Shephelah\u2019s biblical sites are located along the valleys through which people would have passed from the coastal plain to the Judean Highlands. Settling along these valleys served the dual purpose of giving the inhabitants access to fertile agricultural land, as well as the ability to control travel between regions. This was especially important for the defense of the young Judahite kingdom.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89279\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/what-is-the-shephelah\/attachment\/a-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-maresha-in-the-lower-shephelah-courtesty-nathan-steinmeyer-bas\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89279\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89279\" class=\"wp-image-89279 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-300x225.png.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-300x225.png.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-1024x768.png.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-768x576.png.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-1536x1152.png.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-2048x1536.png.avif 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-300x225.png&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-300x225.png 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-768x576.png 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/A-bell-cave-part-of-an-underground-cave-network-at-the-site-of-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesty-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS-2048x1536.png 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89279\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bell cave, part of an underground cave network at the site of Maresha in the lower Shephelah. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>According to both the biblical account and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/king-davids-judah-found\/\">various historical reconstructions<\/a>, the Shephelah was also one of the first regions into which David\u2019s kingdom expanded in the early tenth century BCE. Beginning in Hebron, where David reigned for several years, the kingdom soon grew to encompass Jerusalem and the eastern Shephelah, before expanding again to incorporate the northern Negev and other major cities in the Shephelah, including Lachish.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89275\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/what-is-the-shephelah\/attachment\/the-ruins-of-the-byzantine-church-of-saint-anne-in-the-lower-shephelah-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer-bas_\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89275\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89275\" class=\"wp-image-89275 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-2048x1536.jpg.avif 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/The-ruins-of-the-Byzantine-church-of-Saint-Anne-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-2048x1536.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89275\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The ruins of the Byzantine church of Saint Anne in the lower Shephelah. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Shephelah is largely covered by grasses, shrubs, and low-lying trees, and it mostly consists of a Mediterranean climate. Although containing many fertile valleys, the area is too hilly for large-scale industrial agriculture, but today it still features many smaller fields as well as some of Israel\u2019s most popular vineyards. It is also an ideal place for sheep herding.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_89277\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/what-is-the-shephelah\/attachment\/herd-of-sheep-at-maresha-in-the-lower-shephelah-courtesy-nathan-steinmeyer-bas_\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-89277\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-89277\" class=\"wp-image-89277 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1024x768.jpg.avif 1024w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-768x576.jpg.avif 768w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1536x1152.jpg.avif 1536w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2025\/01\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-2048x1536.jpg.avif 2048w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/300;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/Herd-of-sheep-at-Maresha-in-the-lower-Shephelah.-Courtesy-Nathan-Steinmeyer-BAS_-2048x1536.jpg 2048w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-89277\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Herd of sheep at Maresha in the lower Shephelah. <em>Courtesy Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<h4>The Valley of Elah<\/h4>\n<p>The lush <a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/world-wonders-the-valley-of-elah\/\">Elah Valley<\/a> is one of the best known and archaeologically rich valleys of the Shephelah. Named after the terebinth tree, the Elah is an exceptionally fertile region that was part of the breadbasket of ancient Judah. Along the valley\u2019s edges are several important archaeological sites, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/archaeology-today\/digging-in-tel-azekah\/\">Azekah<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/khirbet-qeiyafa-cultic-center\/\">Khirbet Qeiyafa<\/a>, Tel Socoh, and Tel Adullam.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n\n\t\t<div id=\"mailing_list_ebook_page\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class='gravity_form_mailing_list'>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"downloadFormSec esolshortwrap\">\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-3 mb-4 mb-md-0\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-src='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/test-kitchen-cover.jpg' class='esolsetnewimg smush-dimensions lazyload' width='400' style='--smush-image-width: 400px; --smush-image-aspect-ratio: 400\/267;' src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' data-srcset='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/test-kitchen-cover.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2020\/04\/test-kitchen-cover-300x200.jpg.avif 300w' data-sizes='auto' data-original-sizes='(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px' data-smush-avif-fallback='{&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/test-kitchen-cover.jpg 400w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/test-kitchen-cover-300x200.jpg 300w&quot;}'>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-9 col-sm-9\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>FREE ebook, <strong>Recipes from the BAR Test Kitchen<\/strong> Make your own food from recipes handed down from biblical times. Download now.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n                <div class='gf_browser_unknown gform_wrapper gform-theme gform-theme--foundation gform-theme--framework gform-theme--orbital' data-form-theme='orbital' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_3' ><style>#gform_wrapper_3[data-form-index=\"0\"].gform-theme,[data-parent-form=\"3_0\"]{--gf-color-primary: #204ce5;--gf-color-primary-rgb: 32, 76, 229;--gf-color-primary-contrast: #fff;--gf-color-primary-contrast-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-primary-darker: #001AB3;--gf-color-primary-lighter: #527EFF;--gf-color-secondary: #fff;--gf-color-secondary-rgb: 255, 255, 255;--gf-color-secondary-contrast: #112337;--gf-color-secondary-contrast-rgb: 17, 35, 55;--gf-color-secondary-darker: #F5F5F5;--gf-color-secondary-lighter: #FFFFFF;--gf-color-out-ctrl-light: rgba(17, 35, 55, 0.1);--gf-color-out-ctrl-light-rgb: 17, 35, 55;--gf-color-out-ctrl-light-darker: rgba(104, 110, 119, 0.35);--gf-color-out-ctrl-light-lighter: #F5F5F5;--gf-color-out-ctrl-dark: 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        attributes: true,                childList: false,                subtree: true,                attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ],            });        } else {            triggerPostRender();        }    } );} ); \n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<!-- download link -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div id=\"eBook_download_link\" name=\"eBook_download_link\">\n\n\t\t\t<button onclick=\"location.href='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/recipes_from_the_bar_test_kitchen-2.pdf'\">DOWNLOAD EBOOK<\/button>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<p>The nearly 4-mile-long valley, which extends in a broad arc from east to west, was an important corridor and borderland in antiquity. Serving as the backdrop to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/people-cultures-in-the-bible\/people-in-the-bible\/bringing-a-slingshot-to-a-swordfight\/\">the story of David and Goliath<\/a> (1 Samuel 17), the valley forms a natural border between the territories of Philistia and Judah, separating the cities of the coastal plain from those of the hill country. According to the Bible, the Elah Valley was where the Philistine and Israelite armies made camp, and it was from the valley\u2019s streambeds that David took his sling stones to slay the Philistine giant.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><small><em>This article was first published in Bible History Daily on January 27, 2025.<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h4 style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Related reading in <em>Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"UWEbkG8lCw\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/bas-onsite\/onsite_tel_gezer\/\">OnSite: Tel Gezer<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;OnSite: Tel Gezer&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/bas-onsite\/onsite_tel_gezer\/embed\/#?secret=xXAHwcBcJQ#?secret=UWEbkG8lCw\" data-secret=\"UWEbkG8lCw\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"elm4bIVqcd\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/archaeology-today\/digging-in-tel-azekah\/\">Digging In: Tel Azekah<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Digging In: Tel Azekah&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/archaeology-today\/digging-in-tel-azekah\/embed\/#?secret=YAKNhWxuxp#?secret=elm4bIVqcd\" data-secret=\"elm4bIVqcd\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"tI1dmcXeVE\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/sennacheribs-siege-of-lachish\/\">Sennacherib\u2019s Siege of Lachish<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Sennacherib\u2019s Siege of Lachish&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-sites-places\/biblical-archaeology-places\/sennacheribs-siege-of-lachish\/embed\/#?secret=134VMLIpBV#?secret=tI1dmcXeVE\" data-secret=\"tI1dmcXeVE\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"margin: 2em 0;\">All-Access members, read more in the\u00a0<em>BAS Library<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"eXVSLkYCPq\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/memorandum-re-restoring-gezer\/\">Memorandum Re: Restoring Gezer<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Memorandum Re: Restoring Gezer&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/memorandum-re-restoring-gezer\/embed\/#?secret=AUrg8HO7KP#?secret=eXVSLkYCPq\" data-secret=\"eXVSLkYCPq\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"PG71R6HP50\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/the-last-days-of-canaanite-azekah\/\">The Last Days of Canaanite Azekah<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;The Last Days of Canaanite Azekah&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/the-last-days-of-canaanite-azekah\/embed\/#?secret=st3aObhpkf#?secret=PG71R6HP50\" data-secret=\"PG71R6HP50\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"eEYdoWMvhh\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/lachish-temple-sheds-new-light-on-canaanite-religion\/\">Lachish Temple Sheds New Light on Canaanite Religion<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Lachish Temple Sheds New Light on Canaanite Religion&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/lachish-temple-sheds-new-light-on-canaanite-religion\/embed\/#?secret=TleoyGxJ2g#?secret=eEYdoWMvhh\" data-secret=\"eEYdoWMvhh\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"n02nJVBQQm\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/world-wonders-the-valley-of-elah\/\">World Wonders: The Valley of Elah<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;World Wonders: The Valley of Elah&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/department\/world-wonders-the-valley-of-elah\/embed\/#?secret=BuNA6uyY9V#?secret=n02nJVBQQm\" data-secret=\"n02nJVBQQm\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 2em 0;\"><p><strong>Not a <em>BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/subscribe-new\/?utm_term=W26009B0\">Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Shephelah, also known as the Judean Foothills, is one of many geographic regions mentioned in the Bible. 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