Valley of Elah

The Valley of Elah, known in Hebrew as Emeq HaElah, the Valley of the Terebinth, and in Arabic as Wadi es-Sunt, is a shallow valley in the Shephelah region of Israel, at approximately 31.69 degrees north, 34.95 degrees east. It is best known as the setting given in 1 Samuel 17 for the battle between David and Goliath, and the valley holds several significant archaeological sites, including the ancient towns of Azekah and Sokho and the fortified Iron Age II city Khirbet Qeiyafa, identified with biblical Shaaraim and discovered in 2009. A late 19th century description called it one of the most fertile districts in Palestine, an open flat vale about half a mile across and covered with grain, with large terebinth and oak trees scattered across the landscape.