Meredith Kline, the late professor of Assyriology at Westminster Seminary, held that Har Magedon referred to Jerusalem since Tel Migiddo is hardly a mountain. I still believe it is a reference to this valley (Jezreel, which Mt. Megiddo overlooks) because, in part, it provides a generally level place for camps and staging of campaigns. The valley is also accessible from many directions. To call Megiddo a mountain is still allowed in my thinking since it is part of The Carmel Ridge.
From Tel Megiddo one has a good view of the Jezreel Valley. Our panorama is composed of three photos made from the same spot at Megiddo. The Jezreel Valley lies before us to the north (and slightly east). Nazareth is located in the mountains of lower Galilee. The valley continues east between the Hill of Moreh and Mount Gilboa to Beth-Shean, the Jordan Valley, and the mountains of Gilead. The valley was known by the Greek name Esdraelon in New Testament times.
It was almost inevitable that those traveling from Babylon, Assyria, the territory of the Hittites, or Syria to Egypt, would travel through the Valley of Jezreel. The site of Jezreel is between the Hill of Moreh and Mt. Gilboa. (More about this at another time.)
Panorama of Jezreel Valley from Megiddo. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
For teaching purposes you may wish to use this annotated panoramic photograph. Click…
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