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.