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SHEPHELAH

(Heb. šĕpêlâ)

The lowland region between the coastal plain in the west and the Judean hills to the east. The Sharon Plain and Negeb Desert comprise the northern and southern boundaries, respectively — an area between the latitudes of modern Tel Aviv and Gaza. The Shephelah encompasses an area 20 km. (12.5 mi.) east-west by 65 km. (40 mi.) north-south. Elevations range from 90-400 m. (300-1300 ft.).

Situated as it is between elevations at sea level to the west and up to 1000 m. (3300 ft.) on the Judean plateau, one can easily understand why the Hebrew term is variously translated as “lowland, low country,” “foothills,” “vale, valley,” and “plain.” At Josh. 11:2, 16 it refers to the Shephelah of Israel, an area N of the Carmel range and W of the mountains of Ephraim, or just E of the southern coast of Lebanon.

Geologically, the Shephelah is classified as a synclinal depression, composed of limestone and chalk hills of the Eocene epoch, in contrast to the alluvium and marine sediments of the coastal plain and the harder Cenomanian limestone and dolomite of the Judean plateau. The western side of the plateau is comprised of softer Senonian chalk which has extensively eroded, creating a longitudinal valley between the Shephelah and the plateau.

The Shephelah is intersected by several east-west alluvial valleys which have traditionally served as pathways between cities on the coast and those on the plateau. From north to south, the primary valleys include: Aijalon, Sorek, Elah, Zephatha, Lachish, and el-Hesi. Strategically located cities (Aijalon, Zorah, Gath, Azekah, Mareshah, and Lachish) guarded these valley routes, creating a line of defense for Judah’s western boundary and cities in the hill country, including Jerusalem.

The Shephelah is agriculturally fertile, receiving 46 cm. (18 in.) of rain annually. The original vegetation, prior to the onset of deforestation which may have begun before the Early Bronze Age (ca. 3200 b.c.e.), included lentisk bushes and carob trees in the west and oak, terebinth, and Aleppo pine in the east, as well as sycamore-fig trees (1 Chr. 27:28; 1 Kgs. 10:27). The primary crops in ancient times were cereals, olives, and grapes.

According to the tribal allotments in Josh. 15, , the Shephelah was part of Judahite territory. Judg. 1 may presuppose an inheritance of Dan in the Shephelah as well (cf. Josh. 19:40-48; 21:23-24; Judg. 1:34-35; 18). The Shephelah may have functioned as one of the administrative divisions of the kingdom, further subdivided unto four districts (Josh. 15:33-44). A fifth Shephelah district (Josh. 15:45-47) included the heart of Philistine territory and was not always under Judahite control.

The Shephelah served as a staging ground for numerous battles, including Joshua’s fight against the Amorite coalition (Josh. 10) and Samson’s exploits with the Philistines (Judg. 13–16). Rehoboam fortified many cities in the region following Jeroboam’s rebellion (2 Chr. 11:5-12). These same fortifications have also been attributed to Hezekiah and Josiah. Archaeological surveys show that the region prospered from the 9th to the 8th centuries, abruptly ending with Sennacherib’s invasion and defeat of Lachish and other lowland cities in 701. Cities such as Ekron and Timnah were rebuilt in the 7th century and flourished only to be destroyed a century later at the hands of the Babylonians (604-600). Under Persian rule, the southern part of the Shephelah may have been included as part of Idumea. This arrangement continued into the Hellenistic period. The Maccabean Revolt began in the northern end of the Shephelah and the area was once again a staging ground for battles.

A survey of the Shephelah was conducted in 1979 by Yehuda Dagan as part of the Lachish Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University under the auspices of the Israel Exploration Society. A survey conducted in 1986-87 by Zvi Ilan identified 20 sites as synagogues, most dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Remains of other buildings, including churches, were also identified.

Bibliography. H. Brodsky, “The Shephelah — Guardian of Judea,” BibRev 3/4 (1987): 48-52; I. Finkelstein, “The Shephelah of Israel,” Tel Aviv 8 (1981): 84-94; N. Naʾaman, Borders and Districts in Biblical Historiography (Jerusalem, 1986); A. F. Rainey, “The Administrative Division of the Shephelah,” Tel Aviv 7 (1980): 194-202; “The Biblical Shephelah of Judah,” BASOR 251 (1983): 1-22.

Jennifer L. Groves

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SHEPHELAH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)