This page summarizes the sites that are reviewed in the area of the Shefela – Lowland – the south western side of Israel.
Home > Sites > Shefela (Shephelah) > Sites Gallery
(a) The sites:
On each site below you can:
- read a short summary (above the picture)
- read the biblical reference (below the picture)
- click on title to get to the review of that site.
- click on photo to see the picture at full resolution.
- Alternatively, use interactive Shefela map of sites
- A famous ancient city, located near the crossing of the ancient trade route over the Sorek stream.
- (Joshua 15:11): “And the border went out … unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea”.
- Maritime Yavne was the ancient port city of Yavne (Jamnia), situated south of the stream mouth of Nahal sorek.
- (2 Maccabees 12 9):” (Judas) … attacked the people of Jamnia by night and set fire to the harbor and the fleet”.
- Gaza (‘Aza) is one of the World’s ancient cities, situated on the coastal road.
- Judges 16: 1-3: “Then went Samson to Gaza…”.
- An important port city, with 4,000 years of history.
- Zecharia (9:5): “Ashkelon shall see it, and fear…”.
Ashkelon City (Overview)
- This overview page describes the sites in the vicinity of the city of Ashkelon.
Ashdod Maritime (on the sea)
- Ashdod Maritime was the ancient harbor of the city of Ashdod. It is located in the sand dunes on the southern shore of Ashdod.
- An archaeological mound and the traditional tomb of Jonah, situated on a hill overlooking the mouth of the Lachish river.
- Ruins of a fortified Harbour city, during the Canaanite and Philistine times (16th-8th Century BC).
- The fortress of Migdal Afek controlled the narrow pass of Via Maris.
- Wars 2 19 1: “…a great body of Jewish forces gotten together in a certain tower called Aphek”
- A Greek Orthodox church with remains of the most important Christian soldier-saint.
- An impressive 19th Century Khan (inn) in the old city of Lod.
- An 8th Century underground water reservoir in Ramla, and an aqueduct from Tel Gezer that supplied its waters.
- The 19th Century Armenian monastery of St. George is located in the old city of Ramla.
- Ruins of a 13th Century Mamluke Khan in Ramla.
- Lod (Lydda) is a historic city, starting from a Canaanite city situated along two major roads in the heart of the Country. The birth and burial place of the famous St. George, an early Christian Martyr who inspired the Crusaders and Christian World.
- The city was founded in the 8th Century as a new administration center. It is the only city in Israel that was established by the Muslim rulers.
- A major fortified Canaanite and Israelite fortified city, one of the famous Biblical cities.
- 1 Kings 9-15: “King Solomon raised… the wall of Gezer.”
- A grand Mausoleum dated to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, is one of the oldest standing structures in Israel.
- Ruins of a Crusader fortress and Arab village, located in a National forest.
- Ruins of a multi-period Biblical city located on hill above the highway #6 tunnel.
- Ezra 2:1,33: “…came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city; … The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono…”.
- Ruins of a large multi-period Canaanite city near Kiryat Gat, first fortified in the Early Bronze I period.
Gath (Tel Zafit, Tell es-Safi)
- Tel Zafit (Tell es-Safi) is one of the largest Biblical sites in Israel. Settlement started in the Early Bronze Age, and was occupied with some interruptions for 5,000 years until modern times. It is widely accepted by scholars as the Philistine city of Gath – the hometown of Goliath.
- 1 Samuel 5:8: “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath”.
- This page is an overview of the ancient sites of Ashdod, with direction to its major ancient sites.
- (1 Samuel 5:1): “the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod“.
- Ruins of a multi-period Biblical city on a flat topped mound. A possible identification is Libnah.
- Joshua 10:29): “Then Joshua … fought against Libnah:”.
Gezer – Boundary Rock Inscriptions
- Around Tel Gezer are ancient Bilingual inscriptions, bearing the name of Alkios and Hebrew letters bearing the name “Gezer”.
Tel Haror (Tell Abu Hariereh) New!Apr 25, 2020
- Ruins of a multi-period massive Biblical city. A possible identification is Gerar, an important royal city in the age of the Patriarchs.
- Genesis 20:2: “And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah…”.
(b) Map of sites in the Shefela and south coast:
Check the interactive Shefela map of sites. All above sites are displayed on a Google satellite/road map and directed to its review page.
BibleWalks.com – walk with us through the sites of the Holy Land
Sites Navigation: On all featured sites, you can use the navigation aid at the end of the page for proceeding to the next site. The navigation bar takes you through a tour of the sites. At the bottom of each site you can navigate forward or backward, or return back to a full list of all sites in all regions of Israel.
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This page was last updated on Apr 25, 2020 (Added Tel Haror)
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