David, Goliath, Bell Caves & Tombs.

The valley of Elah where Goliath would walk down to challenge anyone from Israel to fight. Saul and the men of Israel were gathered and camped in the valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array to encounter the Philistines. The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. 1st Samuel 17:2-3.

Due east from Tel Azekah is a smaller valley that would lead towards Bethlehem where David traveled back and forth. David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem. 1 Samuel 17:14-15.

A closeup photo of the valley leading to Bethlehem.

These steps on Tel Azekah lead to the David & Goliath lookout over the valley of Elah. Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; and they were gathered at Socoh which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 1 Samuel 17:1.

Tel Azekah is located south of Bet Shemesh in a location known as the British Park. Bet Shemesh would be about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

From Tel Azekah, this is the view north opposite the valley of Elah.

Shepherds watching over their flock with Tel Azekah in the background on the right. A similar scene occurred near Bethlehem a few miles east of this location the night our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, was born. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8.

Just a few kilometers down the highway from the valley of Elah is an Israeli National Park called Bet Guvrin. Bet Guvrin is known for having very unique caves called bell caves. From the inside, the photo below shows one surface hole where they would drop the workers down and excavate the diggings back through it. The further they would dig down the wider the cave would be eventaully making the shape of a bell. Thus the name "bell caves".

There is an estimated 800 caves in the area. Only a few of them are available to the public. Inside Cave#2 were hundreds of "pigeon holes" made specifically for either doves and pigeons. The sign said birds were not used for sacrificing but rather for food. Plus their droppings would be used for fertilizer.

A dark photo below but afterall it was a cave.

Daylight and civilization await right up those stairs.

This little guy was outside the caves thinking about his ancestors who used to live there.

Different hole opening from a different cave.

More pigeon holes.

On a hot summer day, the caves were a welcomed cool location from the sun. We also found some tombs that have been freshened up and repainted. Nehimiah longed to rebuild the walls and the city of Jerusalem where "the tombs of his fathers was located". I said to the king, "If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." Nehemiah 2:5.

Tombs are certainly very Biblical. He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one's regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. II Chronicles 21:20.

So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place. II Chronicles 28:27.

So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place. II Chronicles 32:33.

So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. II Chronicles 35:34.

Across the street from Bet Guvrin are the ruins of an old Roman/Byzantine era city complete with a coliseum / amphitheater. Below the are the floor entrances to the coliseum. Looks like either gladiators could come through those openings or perhaps actors and actresses?

You could walk on the inside all the way around the amphitheater.

The ruins of a Byzantine church.

Byzantine crosses were in the columns.

Description of the church that was still here at the time of the crusaders.

Before the valley of Elah was a scenic turnout to a location known as the Burma Road. Israel's Burma Road was built at night in 1948 in order to provide "back-door" access to Jerusalem. During the 1948 War, the Arabs cut off the main road, now called Highway 1, by placing rocks and boulders in the way. As a convoy of supply trucks with food and water approached the boulders, snipers from the hillside would open fire. Many convoys tried but were unable to reach Jerusalem. This was before helicopters. A small valley full of dirt was brought in to bridge the gap between supplies and an old Roman road. The convoys were able to get through to the starving Jews of Jerusalem.

The Burma Road model showing the route.

The view from the beginning of the Burma Road located just south of today's Highway 1 from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.