Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VALE, VALLEY

Valleys of various sizes and shapes are located throughout the land of Palestine. Some are deep and precipitous narrow gorges, such as those located between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea area. Others are wide fertile plains, such as the valley of Jezreel.

Several Hebrew words, translated variously in different versions, indicate a valley or plain. Heb. biqʿâ denotes a cleaving or separation of mountains. The term most often indicates a widely extended plain, such as Babylon (Gen. 11:2; Ezek. 3:23; 37:1), Lebanon at the foot of Mt. Hermon (Josh. 11:17), and Megiddo (Zech. 12:11).

Heb. gayĕʾ indicates a valley or low, flat region. The term specifically designates the valley of the craftsmen in the plain of Philistia (Neh. 11:35); the valley of the Sons of Hinnom (Ben-hinnom) outside Jerusalem, where sacrifices were offered to Molech (2 Kgs. 23:10); and the valley of vision (Isa. 22:1).

Another term, ʿēmeq, derives from the verb “to be deep.” This can indicate a valley of wide extent fit for agriculture (Job 39:10; Ps. 65:13[MT 14]) or warfare (Job 39:21). The Jordan Valley is indicated in Josh. 13:19, 27.

The word nāḥal can indicate a stream or torrent, or the valley which contains the torrent. Among the particular wadis so designated are Eshcol (Num. 32:9), Sorek (Judg. 16:4), Shittim (Joel 3:18[4:18]), and the Wadi of Egypt, or Wadi el-ʿArish (Josh. 15:4).

A final word indicating a lowland region is šĕpēlâ (“Shephelah”). Though translated variously, all references (except Josh. 11:2, 16b) are to the foothills W of the Judean highlands. The designation is a technical term for the low region near the Mediterranean Sea extending from Joppa to Gaza.

Bibliography. D. Baly, The Geography of the Bible, rev. ed. (New York, 1974).

Harold R. Mosley

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VALE, VALLEY

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)