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Mount Gilboa

Mount Gilboa is a mountain ridge in northern Israel, forming the eastern edge of the Jezreel Valley and overlooking the Harod Valley to the north and the Jordan Valley to the southeast, with its highest point reaching approximately 500 meters above sea level.^[1]^[2] The range, characterized by rugged terrain and scenic vistas accessible via roads like Route 667, has served as a natural barrier and vantage point throughout history.^[2] In biblical accounts, Mount Gilboa is the site of the decisive battle where King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, were defeated and killed by the Philistines, as recorded in 1 Samuel 31, prompting David's elegy cursing the mountains for their lack of dew or rain (2 Samuel 1:21).^[2] This event marked the end of Saul's reign and the rise of David, with the range's exposure contributing to the Israelites' vulnerability in the encounter.^[2] Later, the location hosted pivotal medieval clashes, such as the 1183 confrontation between Crusaders and Saladin and the 1260 Battle of Ain Jalut, where Mamluks halted the Mongol advance, leveraging the terrain's strategic overlooks.^[2] Ecologically, Mount Gilboa supports diverse flora, notably the endemic Gilboa iris (Iris haynei), which blooms vibrantly from February to April, transforming slopes into flower meadows despite areas remaining barren, possibly echoing the biblical curse.^[2] Managed through afforestation by the Jewish National Fund and nature reserves, the area attracts hikers, picnickers, and birdwatchers to its forests, springs, and valleys, including fishponds hosting migratory species.^[2]^[3] Its elevation continues to afford commanding views, reinforcing its enduring tactical significance amid the surrounding lowlands.^[2]

Etymology

Linguistic Origins and Interpretations

The Hebrew name for the mountain range is גִּלְבֹּעַ (Gilboʿa), typically rendered with the definite article ha-Gilboʿa in biblical texts, except in 1 Chronicles 10:8.^[4] The precise etymology of Gilboʿa is unknown, as it functions as a proper noun without clear attestation in extrabiblical sources predating the Hebrew Bible.^[5] Scholarly analyses, drawing from Semitic lexicography, propose derivations from compound roots, but these lack consensus due to the term's opacity and potential pre-Israelite substrate influences.^[6] A common interpretation links Gilboʿa to גַּל (gal), denoting a wave, mound, or spring of water, combined with בָּעָה (baʿah), implying gushing, swelling, or ebullition, yielding "fountain of ebullition" or "bubbling spring." This aligns with hydrological features in the region, such as seasonal springs, though no direct archaeological evidence confirms bubbling sources at the site.^[4] Alternative renderings include "swollen heap," evoking the undulating topography of the ridge, or "agitated pools," emphasizing dynamic water flow or emotional tumult in biblical laments associated with the location.^[7] Speculative views posit a non-Semitic origin, where gil may derive from a Canaanite or earlier toponym for "mountain" or "hill," adapted into Hebrew phonology.^[6] Such hypotheses stem from comparative linguistics but remain unverified, as Gilboʿa first appears in Iron Age Israelite contexts without parallels in Ugaritic or Akkadian records. Biblical usage reinforces its topographic specificity, appearing exclusively in narratives of Saul's defeat (1 Samuel 31:1–8; 2 Samuel 1:21), potentially influencing interpretive layers like "revolution of inquiry" in later metaphysical traditions, though these diverge from philological evidence.^[8] Overall, the name's ambiguity underscores the challenges of reconstructing ancient Near Eastern place-name semantics from limited textual corpora.

Biblical Accounts

The Battle Against the Philistines

The Philistines assembled their forces at Shunem in the Jezreel Valley, prompting King Saul to position the Israelite army on the slopes of Mount Gilboa for defensive advantage. The ensuing battle, described in 1 Samuel 31, saw the Philistines overwhelm the Israelites, with many fleeing and falling slain across the mountain's heights. Philistine warriors pressed Saul's position, killing three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua—before archers mortally wounded the king himself. Critically injured and fearing capture, Saul ordered his armor-bearer to thrust a sword through him, but the man refused; Saul then fell upon his own sword, followed by his armor-bearer's suicide. This account in 1 Samuel 31, paralleled in 1 Chronicles 10:1-6, forms the primary narrative of Saul's death, emphasizing his desperation amid tactical disadvantage on Gilboa's exposed terrain. A subsequent report in 2 Samuel 1, where an Amalekite claims to have killed Saul at his request, contradicts the earlier details and is presented in scripture without endorsement, likely as a fabricated bid for favor from David.^[9] The next day, Philistines scoured the battlefield on Gilboa, discovering Saul and his sons' bodies; they decapitated Saul, stripped his armor for display in the temple of Ashtaroth, and affixed the corpses to the walls of nearby Beth-shan. Archaeological surveys of Mount Gilboa have uncovered Philistine arrowheads and Iron Age I fortifications consistent with the period's conflicts, though no direct markers confirm the precise battle site, attributable to erosion and lack of monumental remains.^[1] Philistine control of Beth-shan post-battle aligns with excavated evidence of their regional expansion around the late 11th century BCE.^[10] The event underscores the Philistines' military superiority in chariot warfare suited to the valley plains, contrasting Israelite reliance on infantry amid Saul's leadership failures.^[11]

David's Curse and Lament

According to the biblical narrative in 2 Samuel 1, upon receiving news of King Saul's defeat and death at the hands of the Philistines on Mount Gilboa—along with the deaths of his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua—David, then in Ziklag, mourned deeply and directed a lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. He first ordered the execution of an Amalekite messenger who claimed to have delivered the fatal blow to Saul at the king's request, viewing it as a violation against God's anointed, though the account in 1 Samuel 31 describes Saul's suicide by falling on his sword to avoid capture.^[9] David then composed and recited an elegy, instructing that it be taught to the people of Judah as "the lament of the bow," emphasizing the tragedy of Israel's defeat and the loss of its leaders.^[12] Central to the lament is David's poetic curse directed at Mount Gilboa itself, symbolizing the site's role in the catastrophe: "O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields of offerings, upon you! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled—the shield of Saul, no longer rubbed with oil."^[13] This invocation of drought and unproductivity draws on ancient Near Eastern mourning motifs, portraying the mountain as complicit in desecrating the warriors' shields—symbols of Saul's anointing and military prowess—by exposure to Philistine triumph rather than ritual care.^[14] The curse is not presented as a literal meteorological decree but as hyperbolic grief, akin to poetic expressions in other ancient elegies, underscoring the barrenness of the event without implying ongoing supernatural effect, as evidenced by the region's continued fertility in historical records.^[15]^[16] The broader lament extols Saul and Jonathan's past valor—"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided"—refraining from mention of Saul's prior pursuits of David, instead focusing on national loss with the repeated refrain, "How the mighty have fallen!" Scholarly analysis views this as a rhetorical device to unify Israel under David's emerging leadership, blending personal sorrow for Jonathan with political reconciliation toward Saul's house, though it idealizes Saul's record amid biblical depictions of his failures.^[17] No direct archaeological corroboration exists for the lament's composition or curse, but the narrative aligns with Iron Age I evidence of Philistine incursions in the Jezreel Valley near Gilboa, supporting the plausibility of a decisive battle there around the 11th century BCE.^[18]^[19]

Historical Development

Ancient and Biblical-Era Evidence

Mount Gilboa features prominently in the Hebrew Bible as the site of King Saul's defeat and death during a battle against the Philistines, traditionally dated to circa 1010 BCE, as described in 1 Samuel 31:1–13, where Israelite forces were routed, and Saul, along with his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, fell on the mountain's slopes.^[20] This event marked the end of Saul's reign and the Philistine display of his body at Beth Shean, prompting David's subsequent lament cursing the "mountains of Gilboa" for the bloodshed of Israel's mighty (2 Samuel 1:19–27).^[20] These passages constitute the primary textual evidence linking the mountain to key events in the United Monarchy period, portraying Gilboa as a strategic highland overlooking the Jezreel Valley and Jordan Rift, vulnerable to incursions from the coastal plain.^[1] Archaeological investigations, primarily through surface surveys rather than large-scale excavations due to the rugged terrain, reveal evidence of human activity on Mount Gilboa spanning the Bronze and Iron Ages, consistent with the biblical era of Israelite settlement and monarchy. The Manasseh Hill Country Survey, conducted from the 1980s onward under Adam Zertal and involving systematic mapping of the region, identified over 100 sites on the mountain's slopes and summits, including scatters of Iron Age I–II pottery sherds indicative of villages and seasonal camps during the 12th–8th centuries BCE.^[1] Notable among these is Giv'at Yonathan (Jonathan's Hill), a fortified settlement on a western spur featuring walls and artifacts from the Middle Bronze Age through Iron Age, suggesting defensive structures amid the area's strategic position bordering Philistine-influenced territories.^[21] At the peak known as Saul's Shoulder (Sheikh Iskander), surveyors documented a stone heap measuring 8 by 10 meters, accompanied by ceramics from Iron Age I–II, alongside earlier Bronze Age and later Persian-period remains, pointing to intermittent occupation but no monumental architecture.^[22] While no fortifications or mass graves directly corroborate the specific Philistine-Israelite clash described in scripture—attributable to the ephemeral nature of open-field battles and post-depositional erosion— the prevalence of Iron Age material culture aligns with a period of tribal consolidation and conflict in the northern hill country, as evidenced by regional parallels at nearby sites like Beth Shean.^[1]^[23] This sparse but corroborative record underscores Gilboa's role in the transitional landscape of early Iron Age Canaan, where highland communities navigated pressures from lowland powers.^[1]

Post-Biblical to Ottoman Period

During the Roman period, Mount Gilboa saw a notable increase in settlement activity, evidenced by burial caves discovered in villages such as Faqqua, Mutila, and Mugheyr on its slopes.^[3] These findings indicate populated communities engaged in local agriculture and burial practices typical of the era's rural Judean and Galilean hinterlands.^[1] In the Byzantine era (c. 4th–7th centuries CE), further evidence of human occupation includes remains of churches and monasteries scattered across the mountain, reflecting Christian monastic expansion in the region amid pilgrimage routes linking sites like nearby Beit She'an.^[3] Archaeological surveys have identified structural foundations and artifacts consistent with this period's architectural styles, suggesting self-sustaining communities focused on spiritual and agrarian life.^[1] The Early Muslim period (7th–11th centuries CE) brought continued habitation, with remnants of buildings and extensive agricultural terraces documented on the slopes, adapted for terraced farming in the rugged terrain to support olive and grain cultivation.^[3] These features align with broader patterns of Arab settlement in the Jezreel Valley periphery, prioritizing water management and soil retention.^[1] Crusader presence (11th–13th centuries CE) on Mount Gilboa itself appears limited compared to valley fortifications, though regional surveys note occasional fortified outposts and watchtowers integrated into earlier structures, likely for oversight of trade and military routes.^[22] Mamluk rule (13th–16th centuries CE) followed, with sparse but enduring agricultural infrastructure, including repaired terraces and possible administrative markers, as overlords emphasized taxation over dense settlement in hilly areas.^[24] Under Ottoman administration (1516–1918 CE), Mount Gilboa hosted several villages, including Nurit, which featured stone-built houses, mosques, and agricultural installations persisting from earlier eras until its depopulation in 1948.^[25] The Palestine Exploration Fund's 19th-century surveys recorded Ottoman-period quarries, caves repurposed for storage, and burial sites, underscoring a continuity of rural Muslim Arab life centered on herding and dry farming amid imperial land grants (timars).^[22] Tax records from the period highlight modest village economies, with populations fluctuating due to regional conflicts and malaria in the lowlands.^[1]

Modern Israeli Era

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Israeli forces, including the Golani Brigade, conducted operations to secure the Mount Gilboa range and adjacent areas northeast of Jenin, contributing to the establishment of Israeli control over the region following the abandonment of local Arab villages.^[26]^[27] In the subsequent decades, Jewish settlements expanded on the mountain's slopes under the auspices of the Gilboa Regional Council. Kibbutz Ma'ale Gilboa, a religious kibbutz, was founded in 1962 on the northeastern summit, facilitating agricultural development and regional security.^[28] Further settlement activity included the establishment of Malkishua in 1976 as a Nahal military outpost on the slopes, later transitioning to a civilian community, and a religious settlement on Mount Avinadav in 1982 near the security barrier separating Israeli territory from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.^[29]^[30] Mount Gilboa's elevated terrain has retained strategic military value, providing oversight of the Jordan Valley and serving as a vantage point amid ongoing border tensions.^[2] In September 2021, six Palestinian prisoners convicted of terrorism offenses escaped from Gilboa Prison at the mountain's base via a hand-dug tunnel approximately 50 meters long, exposing lapses in Israeli Prison Service protocols and triggering a nationwide manhunt; five were recaptured within a week, while the sixth was apprehended after two weeks.^[31]^[32]

Physical Geography

Location and Topography

Mount Gilboa is a mountain ridge located in northern Israel, within the Gilboa Regional Council, forming the southeastern edge of the Jezreel Valley and extending eastward toward the Jordan Valley.^[2]^[1] It lies at approximately 32°27′N 35°25′E, bordering the West Bank to the east and overlooking the Harod Stream valley to the north.^[33] As the northernmost extension of the Samarian highlands, the ridge marks a transition between the coastal plain's extensions and the Jordan Rift Valley.^[27] The ridge measures about 18 kilometers in length, oriented southwest to northeast, with elevations rising from the surrounding valleys to peaks up to 650 meters above sea level.^[3]^[27] It comprises multiple summits, including Malkishua Peak at 536 meters, characterized by steep eastern escarpments that drop sharply into the Jordan Rift and gentler western slopes descending into the Jezreel Valley.^[34] The topography features rugged terrain with hard limestone outcrops, narrow ridges, and incised valleys, contributing to its dramatic relief of over 500 meters relative to the adjacent lowlands.^[34]^[1]

Geological Formation

Mount Gilboa forms part of the Gilboa Ridge, a structural feature primarily composed of hard chalk and limestone deposits. The bulk of the ridge consists of Eocene-age chalk, characterized by its resistance to erosion, which supports the elevated topography reaching up to 496 meters at Mount Ishmael. The steeper northern slopes expose older Cenomanian-Turonian (mid-Cretaceous) chalk formations, underlying the Eocene sequence and contributing to pronounced cliffs and escarpments.^[3]^[27] Tectonically, the ridge represents a folded block on the western margin of the Dead Sea Transform (DST), a major left-lateral strike-slip fault system marking the boundary between the Arabian and African plates. Uplift and deformation initiated at least during the Miocene, driven by transpressional stresses from DST motion, which produced en echelon folding and faulting patterns. The Carmel-Gilboa Fault System, a northwestern splay of the DST, bounds the region and accommodates ongoing crustal shortening, as indicated by paleostress inversions from fault slip data and recent geodetic monitoring of surface deformation.^[35]^[36] Stratigraphic studies of the Eocene section on Mount Gilboa identify three main lithostratigraphic units, reflecting depositional environments in a shallow marine platform transitioning to deeper pelagic settings amid regional subsidence and subsequent tectonic inversion. These units include cherty limestones and marls, overlain by nummulitic limestones and capped by softer chalks, with unconformities marking tectonic pulses. The overall boomerang-shaped morphology of the ridge arises from this compressional folding, extending northward from the Samaria highlands and curving northwestward.^[37]

Ecology and Biodiversity

Flora and Vegetation Patterns

Mount Gilboa's vegetation exhibits distinct patterns influenced by slope aspect and elevation, with northwestern slopes featuring Mediterranean batha dominated by semi-shrubs and herbaceous layers, while southeastern slopes transition to semi-steppe shrublands adapted to drier conditions.^[3] Bushy and grassy batha formations prevail across much of the range, supporting diverse plant communities on limestone and chalk soils, including phrygana associations with drought-resistant species.^[38] ^[39] These ecosystems thrive under a Mediterranean climate, with winter rainfall fostering a seasonal herbaceous bloom that carpets the mountain in spring, barring drought years.^[3] The Ceratonia-Pistacia lentiscus community extends over areas east of the watershed divide in the Gilboa mountains, characterized by evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs and trees forming open maquis-like stands.^[40] On rocky-stony slopes, arid batha habitats host geophytes and perennials, including the endemic Iris haynei, a rhizomatous iris restricted to the Gilboa ridge and eastern Samaria, blooming violet-purple flowers from March to April in sunny exposures.^[41]^[39] This species, classified as endangered due to limited distribution and habitat pressures, exemplifies the range's floristic uniqueness, growing in clumps via vegetative reproduction amid sparse shrub cover.^[42]

Fauna and Wildlife

The fauna of Mount Gilboa reflects its diverse habitats, including rocky slopes, oak woodlands, and adjacent valleys with seasonal streams, supporting a range of mammals, birds, reptiles, and smaller invertebrates. Mammalian species commonly observed include the mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), which inhabits the lower slopes and feeds on shrubs and grasses; the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), often seen in rocky outcrops; red foxes (Vulpes vulpes); wildcats (Felis silvestris); Cape hares (Lepus capensis); Indian crested porcupines (Hystrix indica); and various small rodents.^[3]^[27]^[28] These populations benefit from the reserve's protection but face pressures from habitat fragmentation and predation. Avian diversity is notable, with over 30 species recorded, including breeding residents like the chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), blue rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius), and common wood-pigeon (Columba palumbus), alongside raptors such as long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) during spring migration and breeding seasons.^[43] The nearby Harod Valley fishponds attract waterbirds, including cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), pelicans, storks, gulls, and ducks, enhancing regional biodiversity.^[44] Reptiles are represented by several snake species and turtles adapted to the rocky terrain and intermittent water sources, though specific inventories remain limited; common genera include vipers and colubrids among snakes, with freshwater turtles in valley streams.^[28]^[34] Rodents and isopods contribute to the understory ecosystem, aiding soil aeration and seed dispersal, while overall wildlife richness underscores the area's ecological value within Israel's northern Mediterranean zone.^[3]

Contemporary Significance

Conservation Efforts and Nature Reserves

The Gilboa Iris Nature Reserve was established in 1970 by Israel's Nature and Parks Authority to safeguard populations of the endemic and endangered Iris haynei, a species native exclusively to Mount Gilboa and adjacent areas in eastern Samaria.^[28] This reserve targets the flower's habitat amid threats from over-collection and habitat loss, which had driven it near extinction prior to protective legislation.^[3]^[45] In 2005, the Eastern Gilboa Nature Reserve was designated, expanding protected coverage to over 10,000 hectares across the ridge's slopes and encompassing diverse ecosystems like batha shrublands and grasslands vital for regional biodiversity.^[28] Complementary protections extend to the Um Zuka Nature Reserve, where Iris haynei subpopulations are monitored and fenced against grazing pressures. These reserves enforce restrictions on development and resource extraction, with enforcement bolstered by Israel's Wild Plant Protection Law, enacted to curb illegal harvesting that historically decimated rare flora.^[45] Conservation initiatives involve collaborative management by the Nature and Parks Authority and the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), including reforestation in the Gilboa Forests to restore woodland cover while regulating grazing to prevent overgrowth and soil erosion.^[3] In 2003, a proposal for 120 housing units on 0.15 square kilometers of reserve-adjacent land sparked debate, but approval by authorities reflected calibrated trade-offs prioritizing core habitats amid regional growth needs.^[46] Recent monitoring shows positive outcomes, such as a 2024 bloom surge in Iris haynei following abundant rainfall, indicating resilience under protected conditions.^[47] Broader efforts address faunal conservation indirectly through habitat preservation, supporting species like rodents, reptiles, and birds reliant on the reserves' 170+ plant taxa, though targeted programs focus primarily on floral endemics.^[28] The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel advocates for expanded safeguards, emphasizing empirical monitoring over expansive designations to balance ecological integrity with sustainable land use.^[48]

Tourism and Recreational Use

Mount Gilboa serves as a popular destination for outdoor recreation, drawing visitors for hiking, picnicking, and nature observation within its designated nature reserves and forests. The area features numerous marked trails suitable for various skill levels, including a 12-kilometer circular hike starting at Malchishua Cliff with approximately 500 meters of ascent, offering panoramic 360-degree views of the Jezreel Valley and surrounding regions.^[49] Managed by the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), sites such as Mount Shaul and Saul's Shoulder provide picnic tables, playgrounds, barbecue areas, and accessible paths, facilitating family-friendly activities amid scenic cliffs and forested paths.^[3]^[50] In spring, particularly February and March, the mountain attracts tens of thousands of tourists to witness carpets of wildflowers, including the endemic Gilboa Iris, alongside orchids and anemones, enhancing its appeal for photography and botanical walks.^[51] Additional pursuits include mountain biking, birdwatching, and paragliding from steep ridges, supported by the Gilboa Nature Reserve's infrastructure of recreational zones and trails.^[52]^[28] Nearby Harod Spring National Park at the mountain's base offers streams and pools for cooling off and casual leisure.^[53] The Gilboa Scenic Road facilitates access to these sites, with KKL-JNF-maintained recreation areas like Nurit providing parking and amenities for campers and day visitors, promoting the region's biodiversity and historical landscapes without compromising conservation.^[54]^[55]

Archaeological and Scholarly Debates

Archaeological work on Mount Gilboa has focused on systematic surveys due to the steep, karstic terrain limiting large-scale excavations. The Manasseh Hill Country Survey, directed by Adam Zertal from the University of Haifa, mapped over 200 sites across the region, revealing Bronze Age fortifications and Iron Age I-II settlements consistent with early Israelite activity in the hill country. Findings include terraced agriculture, cisterns, and pottery sherds dating to circa 1200–586 BCE, supporting patterns of dispersed rural occupation rather than urban centers.^[1] A prominent site is Giv'at Yonathan, a fortified hillock on Gilboa's western spur, featuring Early Bronze Age walls (circa 3000 BCE) and reused Iron Age structures, with surface scatters indicating continuity into the period of the Judges and early monarchy. Scholars link it tentatively to biblical figures like Jonathan, son of Saul, though identifications rely on topography rather than inscriptions.^[56] Debates persist over evidence for the Battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), where Philistine forces defeated Saul circa 1000 BCE. Surface surveys recovered over 120 bronze and iron arrowheads from Khirbet Meitar on the western slopes, with ICP-MS analysis confirming Iron Age I metallurgy matching Philistine and Israelite weaponry of the era. Proponents argue these represent conflict debris, bolstering the biblical account's plausibility amid regional warfare patterns. Critics counter that unstratified finds cannot prove a specific engagement, attributing them to general Iron Age skirmishes, as battles rarely leave diagnostic traces without mass graves or siege works—absent here due to erosion and soil poverty.^[10] Tactical reconstructions fuel further contention: the biblical narrative describes Philistine chariots pursuing Saul uphill, yet Gilboa's gradients (up to 30–40 degrees) and narrow paths render chariot maneuvers improbable without dismounting, prompting hypotheses of exaggerated topography or infantry dominance in the assault. Some analyses invoke Philistine tactical adaptability, evidenced by similar engagements at sites like Beth Shean, but others view the text as stylized etiology rather than literal history.^[57] Broader scholarly disputes tie Gilboa to United Monarchy debates, where minimalist views question Saul's kingship as ahistorical projection, citing sparse monumental architecture versus maximalist arguments from survey density aligning with tribal confederacies transitioning to statehood. Zertal's data, emphasizing fortified villages over palaces, favors a low-density monarchy model, challenging both extremes while affirming empirical settlement continuity. Roman-era burial caves in adjacent villages (e.g., Faqqua) indicate later Hellenistic continuity, but pre-exilic layers underscore Gilboa's role in Iron Age frontier dynamics.^[3]

References

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Mt Gilboa Archaeological Survey - BibleWalks 500+ sites
Though its biblical importance is central to the narrative of King Saul's downfall, Mount Gilboa also has historical and strategic importance in ancient times.Missing: flora | Show results with:flora
[2]
Geography of Israel: Mt. Gilboa - Jewish Virtual Library
According to the Old Testament, Mt. Gilboa (which is really a ridge and not a single mountain) is a place of tragedy and triumph. Israelis flock here every year ...
[3]
Gilboa Forests - Springs & Valleys in the Lower Galilee
The Gilboa's abundant flora has made it a major attraction for tens of thousands of visitors. In most years, unless there is a drought, the mountain is covered ...Missing: strategic | Show results with:strategic
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[5]
Strong's Hebrew - Gilboa: a mountain in Northern Israel - Bible Hub
גִּלְבֹּעַ proper name, of a location Gilboa` (derivation unknown), mountain-ridge at southeast end of plain of Jezreel, where Saul & Jonathan were killed; ...
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Strong's #1533 - Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary
גִּלְבֹּעַ proper name, of a location Gilboa` (derivation unknown), mountain-ridge at southeast end of plain of Jezreel, where Saul & Jonathan were killed; usually ...<|separator|>
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H1533 - gilbōaʿ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (net) - Blue Letter Bible
Outline of Biblical Usage [?]. Gilboa = "swollen heap". a mountain-ridge at the southeastern end of the plain of Jezreel, site of the death of Saul ...
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It is situated to the southeast of the Jezreel Valley and is known for its rugged terrain and significant elevation, which provides a strategic vantage point ...Missing: reserve flora importance
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Why are there contradictory accounts regarding the death of Saul in ...
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Archaeology affirms Philistine occupation of Beth-shan, Philistine arrowheads on Gilboa, and Israelite fortifications contemporaneous with Saul. • Epigraphy ...
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Apr 11, 2022 · First Samuel 31 reveals that Saul “was severely wounded by the archers” (31:3) in Israel's battle with the Philistines. · Second Samuel 1 ...Differentiating Between A... · Did The Philistines Kill... · Did God Kill Saul?Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
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David laments the death of Saul and Saul's son, his friend Jonathan, in this poignant elegy. ANALYSIS. Some of the strangeness of this passage as the beginning ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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2 Samuel 1:21 O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain ...
The curse pronounced on these mountains reflects the deep sorrow and lamentation over the loss of Saul and Jonathan. The geographical setting underscores the ...Audio · Cross · Study
[14]
2 Samuel 1:21 Commentaries: "O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew ...
For at the same time that the mountains are cursed for it, he hath contrived to turn it into praise upon Saul: There the shield of the mighty was cast away; no ...
[15]
2 Samuel 1:21 - “Mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor...
[let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain upon you; which is not to understood as a real imprecation; for David would never curse any part of the ...<|separator|>
[16]
Biblical Mount Gilboa - Unique Sites of Israel Blog
Jul 21, 2021 · Mount Gilboa is a scenic mountain, offering many great hiking trails. Half of the mountain is barren as a result of King David's curse (2 Samuel 1:21).
[17]
David's Lament and the Poetics of Grief in 2 Samuel - jstor
The results of this analysis suggest that. David's lament serves within a larger narrative pattern woven into the subtext of 2 Samuel which both complicates and ...
[18]
Evidence for 1 Samuel 31:6 events? - Bible Hub
Radiocarbon samples from Gilboa flint-knapping debris (5075 ± 25 BP, calibrated ≈1050 BC) fall squarely in Ussher's date-range for Saul's final decade (c. 1065– ...
[19]
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Feb 23, 2012 · The Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his three sons lying on Mt. Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped him of ...
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Gilboa sites - BibleWalks 500+ sites
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Saul's Shoulder - Gilboa - BibleWalks 500+ sites
Gilboa – Biblical name of the mountain range. A possible source of the name is Gal-Nove'a (Hebrew for gushing-waves, named after its springs along the foothills) ...Missing: significance primary
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Why no evidence for Gilboa battle site? - Bible Hub
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[24]
"Iron Age, Persian–Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Crusader ...
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Nurit - BibleWalks 500+ sites
A new survey is now conducted as part of the new archaeological survey of Mt. Gilboa, as part of the Manasseh Hill Country Survey. Photos: (a) Overview. A ...
[26]
Timeline of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War - Steven's Balagan
Aug 21, 2013 · ... Mount Gilboa range northeast of Jenin (Herzog, 1982). Golani also seized Megiddo and Lajun to the north of Jenin. 1st week of June 1948.
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Gilboa | Israel
Mount Gilboa experienced a settlement boom during the Roman era, and burial caves from the period have been found in the villages of Faqqua, Mutila and Mugheyr ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[28]
The Gilboa Nature Reserve | Bein Harim Tours
Today the forest covers about 5,000 acres. Roads were built through the forests, hike trails were established, and Kibbutz Maale Gilboa was founded in 1962. In ...
[29]
Our history - עמותת נוה מלכישוע
Malkishua was established as an Nahal holding in 1976, the second settlement on Mount Gilboa after Kibbutz Ma'ale Gilboa located on a more northern peak.
[30]
Revisiting the Gilboa: History, conflict, and change
Mar 14, 2025 · The peaks of the Gilboa speak the language of the Bible. Most famously, this is the area where King Saul fell on his spear rather than face capture by the ...
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May 17, 2023 · Commission of inquiry presents 400-page report on series of blunders that led to brazen escape by 6 Palestinian terrorists; prisons chief ...
[32]
A Hole, a Tunnel, a 32-Yard Crawl: Palestinians Still Free After ...
Sep 7, 2021 · A huge manhunt has failed to find six Palestinian prisoners who escaped an Israeli jail early on Monday morning.
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Mount Gilboa, Israel - Elevation - Peakbagger.com
Latitude/Longitude (WGS84), 32.480551, 35.415115 (Dec Deg) 32° 28' 50'' N, 35° 24' 54'' E (DMS). Map Source, Israel - Hiking OSM (1:25,000). Nation, Israel.Missing: coordinates | Show results with:coordinates
[34]
Mount Gilboa - Your friends in Israel
Mount Gilboa's unique Middle Eastern vegetation includes hundreds of species of plants that create spectacular flower meadows during the blooming season in ...Missing: reserve strategic importance
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Structure and paleostresses in the Gilboa' region, western margins ...
The Gilboa' is a folded block on the western margins of the Dead Sea transform which has been deformed and uplifted at least since the Miocene.
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(PDF) Recent Surface Deformation along the Carmel-Gilboa Fault ...
The Carmel-Gilboa Fault System is one of the major geological structures of northern Israel. It is a northwestern branch of the Dead Sea Fault. Tectonic ...
[37]
The Eocene stratigraphy of Mt. Gilboa and northern Samaria, Israel
Jan 1, 1994 · Six columnar sections from the Eocene of the Gilboa Mountains of northern Israel are presented, divided into three lithostratigraphic units ...Missing: chalk Cenomanian
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Nature and Parks Authority - Conservation Corridor
Sep 5, 2011 · Ecologically, the Gilboa and Ramot Yissachar hills create unique and rare ecosystems - bushy and grassy Batha. These ecosystems are very rich ( ...
[39]
Iris haynei, Gilboa iris, Hebrew: אירוס הגלבוע, Arabic: سوسن فقوعة
Flowering Period: March, April ; Habitat: Batha, Phrygana ; Distribution: Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands ; Chorotype: Mediterranean.
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[PDF] Flora and vegetation of Israel and adjacent areas
The Ceratonia-Pistacia lenliscus community covers large areas east of the water divide of the Samaria, Gilboa, and Galilee mountains.
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Iris haynei Baker | Flora of Israel and adjuscent areas
Habitat: sunny arid batha on rocky-stony slopes. Abundance and distribution: found locally in the eastern parts of the Gilboa ridge, a local endangered endemic.
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Hayne's Iris, Gilboa Iris | Israeli Biodiversity Risk Assessments Project
Hayne's Iris is a 35-50 cm tall geophyte with a violet to purple, fragrant flower, endemic to the Gilboa and eastern Samaria, and is considered a red species.
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Spring birding on Mount Gilboa - צפרות כפר רופין
Local species such as: Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Common Cuckoo, Long-billed Pipit and Blue Rock Thrush that are busy during the breeding season ...
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Mt. Gilboa, Where Saul the First King of Israel Died, Phillistines
Mt. Gilboa (which is really a ridge and not single mountain) is a place of tragedy and triumph. Israelis flock here every year from February to April.
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Iris haynei - Herb & Fable
The creation of nature reserves and wild plant protection law has saved the plant from extinction. Some of the reserves were set up specifically due to the ...
[46]
Israeli Controversy Blossoms Over Protecting Gilboa Iris - Science
May 27, 2005 · Israeli Controversy Blossoms. Over Protecting Gilboa Iris. A proposed eco-friendly settlement on Mount Gilboa has enraged Israeli scientists, ...Missing: studies | Show results with:studies
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Abundant rainfall helps endangered Gilboa iris spring back
Apr 9, 2024 · Generous winter rainfall sparked a particularly bountiful year for the endangered Gilboa iris, which has just ended its flowering season on Mount Barkan.
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THE LAND: Nature - Gov.il
Nov 4, 2021 · Some 2,600 types of plants have been identified, ranging from alpine species on the northern mountain slopes to Saharan species in the Arava in ...
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Mount Gilbo'a (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with ...
Rating 4.5 (10) We did a fantastic circular hike, starting at Malchishua. It was about 12km with almost 500m of ascent. The 360° views were amazing.Missing: recreational | Show results with:recreational
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Mount Gilboa - Tourist Israel
Beyond Mount Shaul lies Kefef Shaul, Saul's Shoulder. This is a fantastic place to rest, with picnic tables, playgrounds, and an accessible trail leading to an ...
[51]
Cool off at the Gilboa - ISRAEL21c
Jul 29, 2013 · This peak, 650 meters above sea level, is also famous for its awesome 360-degree scenic views of the Jezreel Valley, fishponds, the birds they ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Mount Gilboa: Breathtaking Mountaintop Experience
Located in the Lower Galilee region, overlooking the Jezreel Valley, Mount Gilboa is one of Israel's most beautiful sites. With its gentle, rolling hills ...Missing: flora importance
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Harod Spring National Park - Israel Nature and Parks Authority
A refreshing recreational park at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where the Harod spring rises in a cave and flows into a stream.Missing: vegetation | Show results with:vegetation
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HaGilboa Recreation Areas - Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael - KKL JNF
Along the scenic Gilboa Route, KKL-JNF prepared recreational sites with picnic tables. From north to south, the main recreation areas are: Nurit ...
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Mount Gilboa – APT Israel | Tours for the Curious to the Connoisseur
It's also a popular destination for visitors who come to picnic; hikes; biking and soak up the scenery. ... Set on the Gilboa Scenic Road; the Gilboa Iris Nature ...
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Giv'at Yehonathan - BibleWalks 500+ sites
Giv'at Yehonathan is an ancient walled city from the Early Bronze Age on Mount Gilboa, possibly Judge Gideon's camp, named after Saul's son.
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WAS DAVID INVOLVED IN THE DEATH OF SAUL ON THE GILBOA ...
David strictly adheres to the principle of the sanctity of God's anointed. It has already been observed by scholars that David's sup- posed respect toward ...