21. Jezreel Valley

Looking southwest from the top of Mount Tabor toward a portion of the Jezreel Valley, also known as the Plain of Esdraelon. Though the Jezreel Valley is often thought of as one great valley, it is actually a series of valleys that connects the Plain of Acco with the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee region. The valley of Megiddo, for example, is in the western portion of this valley. The Jezreel Valley was the main route across the Holy Land between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Jordan Valley to the east.

Significant Events: The major highway connecting Egypt and Mesopotamia passed through this valley, and many battles were fought here (Judg. 1:22–27; 5:19; 2 Kgs. 23:29–30). The great last conflict in this land begins with the battle of Armageddon, which will be fought shortly before the Second Coming of the Savior; it takes its name from Har Megiddon, or Mountain of Megiddo (Ezek. 38; Joel 3:9–14; Zech. 14:2–5; Rev. 16:14–16). (See BD Jezreel.)