Shalom. This video is commentary for the
Satellite Bible Atlas Maps 1-8 and 1-9
Approaches to Jerusalem and the Benjamin region
We will focus on a cross section
of territory that stretches over four regions:
The Shephelah foothills to the west of Jerusalem
The Hill Country where Jerusalem sits
2500 to 2800 feet above sea level
Then to the east
the rugged Judean Wilderness sloping down to the Rift Valley and Jericho
Jerusalem’s latitude is about the same as the top of the Dead Sea
So, to find Jerusalem quickly on any map
from the top of the Dead Sea
come directly west or left
Remember however that Jerusalem
is over 4000 higher in elevation than the Dead Sea
Note, that the area north of Jerusalem was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin
Jerusalem itself sits within the borders of Benjamin
We will see that the most important routes to Jerusalem
even from the east or west
approach Jerusalem from the north
that is, through the territory of Benjamin
On map 1-9
take a closer look at the important area just north of Jerusalem
The area is called the Central Benjamin Plateau
It is relatively flat ground on the Hill Country watershed
with canyons cutting to its east and west
Only three to seven miles north of Jerusalem
the Central Benjamin Plateau is outlined by the biblical cities
of Gibeon on the west
Mizpah on the north
Geba on the east
and Gibeah, the capital of Saul on the south
Ramah, the hometown of Samuel is at the center of the Plateau
The Central Benjamin Plateau is staging ground for main routes heading to Jerusalem
Control of Central Benjamin means access to Jerusalem
A historical example of this can be seen on Map 6-2
During the Divided Monarchy of Israel’s history
Baasha king of Israel in the north came down and captured Ramah in Central Benjamin
as 1 Kings 15:16 says
“that he might prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah”
Through diplomatic maneuvering and war by proxy Asa removed this threat to his capital in Jerusalem and established a border
between Judah in the south and Israel in the north by building up the towns of Mizpah and Geba
Even east-west routes crossing through the Hill Country are naturally funneled through Benjamin
The region of Benjamin is lower in elevation than Hill Country north and south of it
If one looks at the Hill Country from the west
Benjamin sits in a kind of saddle
Jerusalem and Benjamin are 800 feet lower than hills near Bethel to the north
or Hebron to the south
So, east west routes tend to run through Benjamin
Let’s look at the Western approach to Jerusalem on Map 1-8
The western approach comes from the Coastal Plain through the Aijalon Valley in the Shephelah foothills
In the Old Testament period
the city of Gezer supervised this area
Gezer today is a large ruin or tel
that was fortified by the Canaanites
Philistines and Israelites
As the front door to the capital of Israel
King Solomon fortified Gezer
Solomonic period ruins have been excavated here
M: We are at ancient Gezer on a Solomonic gate
From Gezer the route continues east through the Aijalon valley to Emmaus
the New Testament period counterpart to Gezer
From Emmaus the route angles a bit north to the Beth Horon Ridge route
By staying on the Beth Horon Ridge the route avoids the deep canyons that drain the Hill Country
The route joins the central Benjamin Plateau at Gibeon
connects with the Road of the Patriarchs
It or Central Ridge Route at Ramah
where it turns south past Gibeah to Jerusalem
The Beth Horon Ridge route is perhaps the most important connection from the Coast to the Central Hill Country near Jerusalem
Therefore there were multiple biblical events that occurred here
Hi, we are on the Beth-Horon Ridge route
During Joshua’s time
he pursued the Amorites along with the Israelites down this route and while the Amorites were fleeing
large hailstones fell on them from heaven
Here is an aerial view of the Beth Horon Ridge route
The route comes out from the Aijalon Valley
up on the ridge past Lower and Upper Beth Horon
Solomon fortified towns along this route to guard the approach to his capital Jerusalem
There is another ridge route that ascends from the Aijalon valley into the Hill Country
From Emmaus this route ascends on a ridge to the town of Kiriat Jearim
Then it angles north and also joins the Central Benjamin Plateau at the site of Gibeon
On map 1-8 review the two routes that approach Jerusalem from the west
The first route travels through the flat Aijalon Valley plain and then ascends into the Hill Country on The Beth Horon Ridge ridge
It comes into Central Benjamin at Gibeon and joins the Hill Country Watershed route at Ramah
From Ramah the route turns south on the Road of the Patriarchs
passing Gibeah to Jerusalem
The second route
also comes through the Aijalon Valley but ascends a ridge to Kiriat Jearim
Note how Kiriat Jearim is separated from Jerusalem by two deep Canyons
the Upper Sorek and Cesalon Valleys
These canyons function as a moat on Jerusalem’s western flank
forbidding any easy access to Jerusalem from the west
Instead the Kiriat Jearim route angles north to Gibeon and Ramah in Central Benjamin
There is a route that connects Kiriath Jearim
more directly to Jerusalem
but it is not an easy one It goes treacherously up and down valley and ridge on its way
Map 5-1 shows a historical event connected to the Kiriat Jearim ridge route
In the days of Samuel the ark of the Covenant returned from Philistia to Beth Shemesh
and then up to Kiriat Jearim
where the ark stayed for 20 years until Samuel led Israel in a national repentance
The ark stayed some 100 years in Kiriat Jearim until King David brought it into Jerusalem
We can speculate on the route David used
He may have come through Central Benjamin past the cities of Ramah and Gibeah Saul’s capital
Or the ark travelled the more difficult road across the deep valleys flanking Jerusalem’s west side
Map 6-1 shows the Beth Horon and Kiriat Jearim ridges being used
Solomon’s son Rehoboam had built forts in Judah
But when he forsook the Law of the Lord his forts meant nothing
The Lord brought Pharoah Shishak of Egypt against him
Shishak’s own records parallel the biblical account
Shishak recorded the conquest of towns along both the Beth Horon and Kiriat Jearim ridges as he made his way up to threaten Rehoboam in Jerusalem
Now let’s examine the eastern approaches to the Hill Country and Jerusalem
This photo shows the remnants of a Roman Road between Jericho and Jerusalem
On Map 1-9 all traffic that comes from the east across the Jordan River is absorbed by Jericho
Jericho is in the Rift Valley 800 feet below sea level
The most direct route from Jericho to Jerusalem climbs the Ascent of Adummim
staying south of the Wadi Qilt, Wadi is an Arabic word
often abbreviated W on our maps and Nahal abbreviated N is Hebrew meaning canyon
Wadis are often dry and deep but have water flowing in them during winter rains
F: We are in the Judean Desert on the way from Jericho to Jerusalem and it is characterized by deep canyons like the one behind me
The rugged terrain of the Judean desert is drained by deep cutting wadis
like the Wadi Qilt visible here
Routes traversing the desert avoid the deep wadis and stay on ridges
Here is the path of the Ascent of Adumim along the ridge above Wadi Qilt
Only 15 miles away
Jerusalem is three thousand five hundred feet higher in elevation than Jericho
The Good Samaritan would have descended along the Adumim Route when he assisted a man that had fallen among thieves
Jesus travelled on this ridge when he came to Jerusalem to die.
The next route that ascends into the Hill Country from Jericho is called the Ephraim Ridge route.
This route follows a ridge between the drainage of the Wadi Nueima and Wadi Auja.
A route ascending directly west from Jericho is called the Zeboim Route.
Note that near the town of Michmash this route forks.
One fork angles north toward Ai and joins the road of the Patriarchs near Beth Aven and Bethel.
Joshua undoubtedly utilized this route when he conquered and burned Ai.
Another fork turns toward the town of Michmash and a place the Bible calls The Pass.
The Pass is a place where one can cross over from one side to the other of the Wadi Suwenit.
The town of Michmash guards the north side of the Pass. Geba Guards the south side.
From Geba one has access to Central Benjamin.
We are down in the Suweinit Valley
where we are just over-looking Michmash and Gebah
and this is the place where Jonathon crossed with his armor-bearer from Gebah down here between these two cliffs
which he had to climb using his hands
up to the Philistine garrisons at Michmash
and the cliffs have been named in the Bible
in 1Samuel 14:4-5 where it says “On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff;
one was called Bozez and the other Seneh
One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash
the other to the south toward Geba"
Map 7-7 illustrates a historical event at the Pass of Michmash in the Days of King Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah
A garrison of Assyrian soldiers threatened Jerusalem from the north
Isaiah tells us the enemy came from the north and deposited supplies on the north side of the Pass at Michmash
Then Isaiah says,
“He has crossed over the Pass” He’s lodging at Geba! Ramah is terrified! Gibeah of Saul has fled"
The Assyrians came to Nob and shook their fist threateningly at Jerusalem But that was enough The Lord cut the Assyrians down like a tree
Uh we’re just on our way to Jerusalem and taking a little break right now
I think we’re about to go and see parts of the Roman road and Mount of Olives
More or less,man, Jesus did some work to come to die
This video was written by Professor William Schlegel,
Translated by Dr. Simon Liu, Miss Anny Zhang
And edited by Dr. Joseph Kim
Please visit www.logos101.org for more information.
Again, it’s www.logos101.org
And this is Joseph Kim
Thank you.