A. The Plain of Asher
1. Extends from Rosh Hanikra in the north to Mt. Carmel in the south
2. Size: 5 miles by 20 miles
3. Two Rivers:
a. Belus or Naaman River (Nahar Haman) - Just south of Acco
b. Kishon River
4. Divided between two tribes:
a. Asher
b. Zebulun
5. Part of the Ninth Solomonic District - I Kings 4:16
6. Given to Phoenicia by Solomon - I Kings 9:10-14 |
B. The Plain of Sharon
1. Extends from Mt. Carmel in the north to the Yarkon River in the south
- 60 miles
2. Rivers:
a. Crocodile (Zerka or Blue) - From Dothan and Carmel between Dor and Caesarea
b. Dead - From Dothan to south of Caesarea
c. Salt - South of Natanya
d. Auja - Yarkon
3. Noted for two harbors: Dor and Joppa
4. In New Testament times, a third harbor was added: Caesarea
5. It had a tendency to swamp; causing the Via Maris to move from the coastland, inland,
to Aphek
6. In Egyptian records it is mentioned by Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, Shishak and in the
Amarna Letters
7. In Assyrian records it is mentioned by Esarhaddon and Tiglath Pileser III
8. Mentioned by Eshmenezer of Sidon
9. The king was killed by Joshua - Joshua 12:18
10. Given to the Tribe of Manasseh - Joshua 17:7-10
11. In David’s time, he had herds in Sharon - I Chronicles 27:29
12. Part of the Third Solomonic District - I Kings 4:10-11
13. Destroyed by Shalmenezer IV in 722-721 B.C.
14. Hellenized by Alexander the Great
15. Annexed to the Hasmonian Kingdom by Alexander Yannai
16. The inhabitants in this area began to turn to God under the preaching of Peter - Acts
9:35
17. Declined with the Arab Conquest and turned into swamps
18. Famous flower: The Rose of Sharon (an autumn crocus) Song of Solomon 2:1
19. In the Prophets: Isaiah 33:9; 35:2; 65:10
20. In this century, the soil was discovered to be excellent for citrus trees and has become
the major base for Israel’s citrus industry |
C. The Philistine Plain
1. Extends from the Yarkon River in the north to Raphia in the south,
or more correctly, to Wadi El Arish
2. Rivers:
a. Rubin
b. Sukerir
c. Wadi El-Hesi
d. Wadi Chazzem
e. Wadi Sheriah
3. Settled by the Philistines in the 12th century B.C. who came from Caphtor
(Crete) - Amos 9:7
4. The Philistines established the five cities of the Pentapolis - Joshua 13:3; Judges 3:3;
I Samuel 6:16, 18
a. The Coastline
(1) Ashdod
(2) Ashkelon
(3) Gaza
b. Inland
(1) Ekron
(2) Gath
5. Abraham journeyed through the land of the Philistines - Genesis 21:32-34
6. Moses did not choose to go that way - Exodus 13:17
7. Philistine control retained - Joshua 13:2-3
8. The Ark of the Covenant spent seven months in the Philistine Plain - I Samuel 5:1-6:21
(6:1)
9. David lived in the land of the Philistines - I Samuel 27:1-11; 29:11)
10. The head of Saul and his armor was carried into the land of the Philistines - I Samuel
31:9; I Chronicles 10:9
11. Mentioned in David’s lament - II Samuel 1:20
12. Subdued by David - I Chronicles 20:4-8
13. Marked the border of Solomon’s kingdom - II Chronicles 9:26
14. This is where the Shunammite fled because of the famine - II Kings 8:2-3
15. In the Prophets: Jeremiah 25:20; 47:1-7; Ezekiel 16:27, 57; Joel 3:4; Amos 1:6-8; 9:7;
Obadiah 19; Zephaniah 2:4-7; Zechariah 9:6 |
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